COMFORT, Texas -- A graduate of Comfort High School is listed as missing in action in Iraq.

Specialist James Kiehl (pictured, left), a member of the 507th Maintenance Company stationed at Fort Bliss, is among 12 soldiers who are missing after they were ambushed Sunday near An Nasiriyah, a major crossing point over the Euphrates northwest of Basra.

Kiehl's parents got the bad news Sunday night from their daughter-in-law in Iowa, who is pregnant.

The Kiehls received a phone call from Fort Bliss officials Monday afternoon, but all they learned was that their son was still missing in action.

"I'm waiting to hear from anybody (who) can tell me, what's going on with my son," said a frustrated Randy Kiehl, James's father.

"I've tried to see on the TV the faces of the POW's to see if James was one of them," said Jane Kiehl, James's mother. "So now, I'm looking at the bodies and trying to find out if my son's one of them."

Jane Kiehl said a yellow ribbon she tied around a tree Saturday has new significance. First she tied it in support of U.S. troops. Now, its for the safe return of her son.

"We're real proud of our son," Jane Kiehl added as she looked at pictures in her living room of James during his days as a football player, a member of the school band, and in his military uniform.