The Defense Department on Tuesday identified a missing U.S. serviceman in Afghanistan as Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, a West Seattle sailor who is the target of a massive search by Afghan and international forces.

The Taliban claim to be holding a sailor as hostage, but U.S. and NATO officials have not confirmed that the sailor is Newlove.

Newlove, 25, and a second sailor, Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley, left their Kabul base Friday for a trip to the Charkh District of Logar Province, where the Taliban have a strong presence.

Defense Department officials report that McNeley, 30, died of from wounds sustained Friday. International forces recovered his body after an extensive search. McNeley is from Wheatridge, Colo., and was assigned to the Navy's Assault Craft Unit One in San Diego.

While not confirming that Newlove is being held hostage, NATO officials, in a statement Tuesday, said the international coalition "holds the captors accountable for the safety and proper treatment of our missing service member."

Read the full story at the Seattle Times.