Family awaits word on missing soldier

One of the soldiers reportedly taken hostage with two others in a weekend ambush in Iraq was identified Tuesday as Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, a former Douglas High School student.

Schober attended Douglas in 10th and 11th grades, according to Superintendent Carol Lark.

The Department of Defense listed Schober's hometown as Reno and his status "wherabouts unknown."

He was assigned to Company D, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment out of Fort Drum, N.Y, according to the Department of Defense.

The three missing soldiers were among seven Americans attacked near Mahmoudiya, 20 miles south of Baghdad.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that it believes the missing soldiers are in terrorist hands.

More than 4,000 troops combed the area searching for the missing soldiers.

Nevada National Guard spokesman Staff Sgt. Eric Ritter said Tuesday the family had requested privacy.

"They're really not ready to put any more information out until they know more," Ritter said.

He said the Nevada Guard offered all its resources to the family.

"They have been receptive to that and used our chaplain services and other resources," Ritter said.

Leslie Evans of Minden, a member of Blue Star Mothers, offered support to the missing soldier's family.

"We're here to help each other through these bad times," she said. "Please call us anytime, we really mean that. We'll do laundry, make meals, comfort the family, stay up all night with them."

She said the organization has grown from three members organized shortly after the outbreak of the war in Iraq in 2003 to 44 members in Northern Nevada.

"Sixteen of our moms have children deployed," Evans said.

Evans' son, Daniel Henry Evans, 22, is an Army sergeant stationed in Carson City and has completed on tour of Iraq.

A second son, William Evans, 19, is a senior seaman apprentice in the Navy undergoing training at corpsman school in Great Lakes, Ill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.