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Local Fundraiser Set For Iraq Hostages

853 views · Published 16 November 2007 · 1:47 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: KMBC 9 · 2007 · News & Politics

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and family of a Lee's Summit man kidnapped in Iraq a year ago are looking for financial support from the public.

John Young is one of five private security contractors who were kidnapped from a convoy in Iraq on Nov. 16, 2006. Young works for Crescent Security.

In January, Young was seen in a brief video released by the abductors. Since then, nothing has been heard about them. Relatives told KMBC's Micheal Mahoney that they have printed 90,000 fliers in Arabic that offer rewards for helping find the hostages. The fliers are stashed in a Mideastern warehouse.

Organizers said they need a plane to drop the fliers over parts of Iraq and they have appealed to President George W. Bush for help.

"Please help us get the air support we need," said Mark Koscielski, a friend of a hostage.

The State Department told KMBC that there is a hostage working group at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, but that they don't discuss open cases.

Now, relatives are trying to raise money to help the hostages.

"If we're given a ransom, some of the money is for that. Or they may need medical attention when they get back, so the money will go toward that," cousin Melanie Guston said.

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