Behind the faces of captured U.S. soldiers

All three soldiers assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry of the 1st Infantry Division Stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany RELATED VIDEOS CNN's Greg LaMotte talks to friends and family of Andrew Ramirez - April 1 Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Charles Zewe visits the hometown of Steven Gonzales - April 1 Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Ed Garsten talks with friends of Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone - April 1 Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

April 1, 1999
Web posted at: 11:22 p.m. EST (0422 GMT)

In this story: Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone Spec. Steven Gonzales RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Their tired and battered faces stared out from television screens around the world as Yugoslavia displayed the three U.S. soldiers it had captured along the Yugoslav-Macedonia border.

Which side of the border they were on when they were taken at gunpoint Wednesday depends on which side you talk to.

All three servicemen are cavalry scouts for the U.S. Army and were originally deployed from their base in Germany to Macedonia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez

Though she does not know him, this woman shows her support for Ramirez and his family

Andrew Ramirez, 24, grew up in Los Angeles where his brother, Steve, is a police detective.

Los Angeles police Cmdr. David Kalish spoke with Steve Ramirez.

"He told me that he loves his little brother very much -- he is very worried," Kalish said. "And he told me that his little brother is a brave soldier, and he is confident that he will be strong through this entire ordeal."

While attending Schurr High School in Montebello, Ramirez was on the track and wrestling teams. He was in the Gifted and Talented Education program in his sophomore year and made the honor roll in his junior year.

He graduated in 1992 and entered the Army in July of that year.

His parents are divorced; his father is in the computer business, and his mother works at a department store. Ramirez's sister lives out of state.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone

Stone's hometown paper reports the news of his capture

"Popular and just a little bit wild and mischievous" is how Krystal Niemi describes the Christopher Stone she knew growing up in Capac, Michigan.

His former teachers remember him as an average student and a not-so-great cross country runner who never quit trying to improve.

Stone, 25, is married. His wife, Tricia, and their 5-year-old son, Ryan, live in San Antonio, Texas.

"As a family we are doing all right, and we are doing our very best to help Tricia and Ryan through their ordeal until Christopher returns safely to us," said Lisa McKinney, Tricia Stone's mother.

Christopher Stone's father, Jim Stone, said the family is very concerned and watching media reports closely.

"Chris is a very special American and an incredibly proud soldier, and we are very proud of him," he said in a brief statement at the National Guard Armory in Port Huron, Michigan, his voice often breaking with emotion.

"I was generally encouraged by the president's remarks this afternoon and his commitment to do everything possible to ensure that Chris and his fellow soldiers are returned safely," said the elder Stone.

Spec. Steven Gonzales

The parents of Steven Gonzales, 21, say their son is a strong, religious person and they put their faith in God for his return.

They spoke from their home in Huntsville, Texas, about 90 miles from where Steven grew up in the town of Palestine.

He was a standout student at the Palestine High School, academically gifted and on the cross country track team.

After graduating, Gonzales won a scholarship to Texas A&M but dropped out after one year, enlisted in the Army in 1996 and re-enlisted for two more years in 1998.

Rosie Gonzales broke down in tears she talked about her son.

"Steven and those other two soldiers don't deserve this," she said. "They should not be dealt with as criminals. They're innocent young men who were over there as part of their duty to their country."

Her husband, Gilbert, was more stoic. He said the Gonzales family is trying to keep the household as normal as possible for the sake of Steven's 8- and 14-year-old brothers.

"We have to put our faith in God, and let him take care of what needs to be done and bring him home safely to us," the father said.

Both of Gonzales' parents work for the Texas Department of Corrections.

Correspondents Charles Zewe and Ed Garsten contributed to this report.

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