The Associated Press

BATAVIA, Ohio - President Bush called the family of Army Spc. Keith Maupin, who was taken hostage in Iraq in April, to offer support and encouragement, an Army official said today.

The president talked Wednesday with family members of the 20-year-old soldier whose fate is still unknown, Maj. Mark Magalski said at a brief news conference today in this southwest Ohio city.

The Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera reported Monday that a man being shot in the head in a dark, grainy video of an execution by Iraqi insurgents was Maupin, but Department of Defense officials say they can't be sure.

Magalski, who has been assisting the Maupin family, said Bush spoke with Maupin's parents and brothers for about 10 minutes Wednesday.

"He pledged his unwavering support to the Maupin family that everything possible was being done to return Matt home," Magalski said.

The major said the family appreciated the call and wanted everyone to know that they are relying heavily on their religious faith.

"They have the utmost faith that Matt will return some day," Magalski said.

The Maupin family plans to attend a memorial gathering Monday night in Batavia for another Clermont County native killed in Iraq. Army Sgt. Charles Kiser, 37, was killed by a car bomb Thursday outside Mosul, Magalski said. Kiser, who was with the 330th Military Police Division, a reserve unit based in Sheboygan, Wis., grew up near Batavia in Amelia.

Maupin, who is listed by the military as captured, was taken captive after his convoy was attacked April 9 west of Baghdad. A week later, Al-Jazeera broadcast a videotape showing the soldier sitting on the floor surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles.

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