NZ citizen one of Iraq's US prisoners

By THERESA GARNER

An American soldier held captive in Iraq is a New Zealand citizen who spent most of his childhood in Auckland.

Sergeant James Riley was one of five prisoners of war paraded on Iraqi television after a US Army supply convoy was ambushed at Nasiriyah.

The grandson of a former US consul in Auckland, Sergeant Riley left New Zealand for the United States at the age of 10.

Former Ellerslie Primary pupils will probably struggle to recognise their childhood friend in the scared face of the 31-year-old soldier that has been beamed across the world.

But his links to New Zealand are strong.

One set of grandparents live in Auckland, and tonight they said they were praying for his safety.

Patricia Riley said she had not seen her grandson since she visited America 10 years ago, but they kept in touch by telephone.

"He is very precious."

Sergeant Riley's father, Athol, called his elderly parents from the United States before they heard the news from television.

His wife, Jane, learned James was a prisoner of war after a friend saw a photo of him on the internet.

"His tenacity and stubbornness will get him through this," Jane Riley said. "For us, it will be our faith and our family that will get us through."

After watching the video - in which Sergeant Riley looked frequently from the camera to the microphone and back, seemingly having difficulty understanding his captors' questions - his father said James had not looked worried or frightened. "My son is really stubborn," Athol Riley said.

Sergeant Riley repairs tanks and Patriot missiles and has been in the service for 13 years.

His capture is the second blow for Jane and Athol Riley this year.

One of their two daughters, 29-year-old Mary, also born in New Zealand, has been in a coma for two months after contracting a rare brain disease.

Sergeant Riley's last contact with his parents was when he learned about his sister's illness.

The Rileys moved to Pennsauken, New Jersey, in the early 1980s. Sergeant Riley has not been back to New Zealand, but retains dual citizenship.

Athol Riley recalled happy times when the family lived in Auckland. His son, he said, often talked of the "big backyard" of their Greenlane home.

Sergeant Riley's American grandfather, Joseph Roland, was US consul in Auckland from 1967 to 1972.

Jane, his daughter, married Athol, a New Zealand electrical contractor, during his tenure.

Today, Athol Riley said their son was "practical-minded, strong, and stubborn".

While the families of some of the other prisoners have begged President George W. Bush to "do something", the Rileys said they had been aware of the risks.

"Our son always wanted to be in the military his entire life, and you know the risks," his mother said.

"You accept as part of the job that there are a certain amount of casualties, so you learn to live with it.

"My biggest fear will be to have him come back in a coffin."

The family were coping, with the support of close friends and neighbours. They had also been contacted by the Governor of New Jersey.

"We just hope and pray," said Athol Riley.

- additional reporting: New York Times

Herald Feature: Iraq