Afghanistan Combat Vet, 20, Goes AWOL From Colorado Army Base

U.S. Army specialist Daniel Domres, 20, hasn't been seen since May 11.

By
EMILY SHAPIRO
May 23, 2015, 6:49 PM ET
3 min read

— -- A Minnesota couple is searching for their son, a 20-year-old combat veteran, who hasn't been seen since he went AWOL from a Colorado army base nearly two weeks ago.

Army Spc. Daniel Domres, 20, was last seen May 11 at Fort Carson in Colorado, and is considered AWOL -- absent without leave -- according to ABC affiliate KSTP-TV in St. Paul, Minnesota.

His father, Tom Domres, of St Louis Park, Minnesota, said he hadn't heard from his son in weeks when he found out he was missing.

"He hadn't called home for Mother's Day," Tom Domres told ABC News today. "I texted a friend of his in the unit... The guy said, 'I haven't seen Danny in a while, he's listed as AWOL.' At that moment ... everything changed. We were panicked."

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Tom Domres said his son always wanted to serve his country, and he signed up for the military when he was 18. But Domres is an Afghanistan combat veteran, and his family is worried he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Daniel Domres' "personality was different" after Afghanistan, the young man's father said -- he was "not communicative" and withdrew from his friends and family. And since January, Domres has had "sporadic" contact with the family, Tom Domres said.

Since the family learned of Domres' disappearance, Tom Domres has been in Colorado looking for him, he said.

"We're just trying everything we can," Tom Domres said. "It's tough. We just want him to come home or reach out to us... Are you OK? Are you in trouble? We're just really worried."

According to the Missing Warrior Alert Facebook page, Domres may have made a phone call before leaving Fort Carson. His father says he has "some good sources" that Domres may still be in the area.

Domres is described as having blue eyes, brown hair and a scar above his right eye. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds, according to the Facebook page.

Anyone with information can call the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, police at 952-924-2618.

Officials at Fort Carson did not respond to ABC News' requests for comment.