LAWRENCE | Alex Jimenez loves being a soldier.
When his father's neighbor, Raul Polanco, first met Jimenez, the young U.S. Army specialist was looking through a book about the Army. "He is a true military man; he lived for that," Polanco said.
Other friends describe Jimenez, who has been missing in Iraq since Saturday, as so enthralled with the military, he watches the commercials with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. He loves it so much, they said, he is planning to re-enlist for another four years.
But his family was not so thrilled with the 25-year-old's choice of careers.
"I didn't agree with his decision because of what is happening," said his cousin, Jose Peralta. "When you go to war, it's like a lottery."
So far, most Lawrence soldiers serving in Iraq have been lucky. Only one casualty from the city has been reported since the war began just over four years ago.
Mayor Michael Sullivan said the news of Jimenez's disappearance brought back memories of the death of Army Sgt. Pierre Raymond in 2005. The 28-year-old suffered a fatal wound when he was hit by shrapnel while in his sleeping quarters in Iraq. He died in a hospital in Germany a few days later.
Sullivan kept thinking about Raymond as he fielded questions from the media about Jimenez.
"We all hope and pray the ending is not the same," he said.
Francisco Urena, director of the city's Veterans' Services, agreed that Jimenez' disappearance has brought the war in Iraq home to Lawrence, just as Raymond's death did two years ago.
"Unfortunately, the country goes through this on a daily basis," he said. "It's come home because we have someone with ties to this city."
"It makes the war local," Sullivan added. "The world's been following this for four years now, but it's always like it's over in another part of the world."
Jimenez' disappearance has effected people who don't even know him. Victor Sosa, 75, a neighbor of his father and a Korean war veteran, couldn't stop thinking about Jimenez yesterday.
"It makes me sad," he said.
Staff writer Jill Harmacinski contributed to this report.
Merrimack Valley
Missing soldier brings war home to Lawrence
- Merrimack Valley
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Health violations issued for historic Osgood Street property
Andover officials have issued numerous health-law citations against Susan Odle, owner of this historic pre-Revolutionary property at 116 Osgood St., over the piles of full trash bags piling up around the property.
ANDOVER — A broken-down mini-van filled with clutter, beat-up furniture and weathered toys are scattered across the historic Osgood Farm property.
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Neighbors have said the unsightly materials have been piling up in the yard and inside the home at 116 Osgood St. for years. But the latest addition — hundreds of full trash bags in the front yard — has become a cause for concern for many of them. -
Still moving in the same comfortable rhythm
Editor's Note: In the spirit of Valentine's Day, The Eagle-Tribune asked readers to tell us stories about their lasting relationships — how they worked through the challenges over the years and kept their love healthy and alive. The series continues through tomorrow, highlighting compelling stories of Love's Enduring Promise.
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Sending the kids away: Strikers' children went to safety in Vermont
When Salvatore Savinelli was just 4 years old, he hopped on a train bound for Barre, Vt., with 35 other children and his father as the group made its way out of the city in the midst of one of the biggest strikes in U.S. history.
Continued ... - Vermont town proud of its role
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- Pets of the week
- Community calendar
- Saturday, February 11, 2012
- Early morning, two-alarm fire on High Street, Haverhill drives family out of house
- Back on the home front
- Marine gets big welcome
- Gym damage forces shift of voting site
- Five candidates to run for Andover's top board
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- Church celebrates renovations, anniversary
- Couple caught stealing $889 in groceries
- Man charged with hat theft
- Man arrested after chase
- Friday, February 10, 2012
- Spanish class exchange lets LHS, Phillips Academy students discover common interests
- Write your own success stories, students told
- State of city deadline missed again
- Retiring moderator's advice: 'Stay out of arguments'
- Man facing child porn charges said that he attended Merrimack
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- Methuen, Lawrence Democrats to elect state convention delegates
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