Home Sweet Home For 3 U.S. Hostages

Held By Colombian Rebels Since 2003, Americans Saved With 12 Others

(CBS/AP)  With little fanfare, three American hostages rescued from leftist guerillas in Colombia returned safely to the United States, more than five years after their plane went down in rebel-held jungle.

The men didn't wave to reporters or bend down to kiss the ground upon their return late Wednesday. They simply boarded waiting helicopters, which took them to a hospital where they were expected to reunite with their families.

The U.S. military contractors - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - had been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia since their drug-surveillance plane went down in the jungle in February 2003. Nowhere in the world have American hostages currently in captivity been held longer, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

The three were rescued when Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing them over along with kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. She was also freed Wednesday, as were 11 Colombian police and soldiers.

A plane carrying the Americans landed at Lackland Air Force Base shortly after 11 p.m. All appeared well as they exited the Air Force C-17. The men were then flown by choppers to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where they were expected to undergo tests.

Betancourt embraced her children for the first time in six years Thursday, saying the thought of them helped her stay alive until a daring rescue plucked her and 14 other hostages from the jungle.

"Nirvana, paradise - that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment," Betancourt said, fighting back tears as her son reached over to kiss her. "It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle."

Long before their rescue, it seemed like any public efforts to rescue the hostages had disappeared.

While France exhorted the world to care about the plight of Betancourt, and even sent a humanitarian mission in a failed rescue attempt this year, the U.S. government remained nearly silent about efforts to free the Americans, employees of a Northrop Grumman Corp. subsidiary that has supported Colombia's fight against drugs and rebels.

Howes is a native of Chatham, Mass.; Gonsalves' father lives in Hebron, Conn.; and Stansell's family lives in Miami.

Their families complained publicly about what seemed to be the U.S. government's failure to act.

"We didn't know what the heck was going on," Gonsalves' father, George, told reporters. "I'm getting information from you guys."

The Americans' fate seemed particularly grim after "proof-of-life" images released in November showed them appearing haggard, even haunted, against a deep jungle background.

The contractors and Betancourt were among a group of rebel-designated "political prisoners" whom the FARC planned to release only in exchange for hundreds of imprisoned rebels. But every attempt at talking about a prisoner swap seemed to go nowhere.

Behind the scenes, however, Colombia's armed forces were closing in on the rebels, with the help of billions of dollars in U.S. military support.

The U.S. and Colombian governments learned the hostages' location "any number of times" and planned several rescue missions during their five years in captivity, but the difficulty of extracting them alive had prevented the missions from being carried out, according to a U.S. government official in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of intelligence matters.

Last month, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said soldiers had spotted the three men in the southern jungles, but they disappeared into the forest before the troops could attempt a rescue.

After the men were freed, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield said U.S. and Colombian forces cooperated closely on the rescue mission, including sharing intelligence, equipment, training advice and operational experience.

The Americans appeared healthy in a video shown on Colombian television, though Brownfield, who met with them at a Colombian military base, said two of the three were suffering from the jungle malady leishmaniasis and "looking forward to modern medical treatment."

George Gonsalves was mowing his yard when an excited neighbor relayed the news he had seen on television.

"I didn't know how to stop my lawnmower," he said. "I was shocked. I couldn't believe it."

"We're still teary-eyed and not quite have our wits about us," said Stansell's stepmother, Lynne.

And Howes' niece, Amanda Howes, said the rescue "redefines the word miracle."

Congratulations poured in to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe from President Bush and both presidential candidates. Republican Sen. John McCain said Uribe had told him in advance of the rescue plans while he was campaigning in Colombia. "It's a very high-risk operation," he said. "I congratulate President Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia."

Democrat Barack Obama also sent his congratulations, saying he supports "Colombia's steady strategy of making no concessions to the FARC, and its targeted use of intelligence, military, law enforcement, diplomatic and political power to achieve important victories against terrorism."

Gonsalves' father, who later got a phone call from the FBI confirming his son was free, expected an emotional family reunion, especially for his son's three children, now teenagers. "Think about your children if they don't see you for a week a weekend or a month," he said. "It's five years pulled out of your life."

[shazam007i]

welcome home boys of fortunes......

[ubrew12]

The movie ''Proof of Life'' is a good exploration of the emotions of a kidnapping like these. It''s truly a horrific thing to have happen, and I''m glad these cases turned out happily.

''In war, how you fight is eventually more important than WHY.'' Freeman Dyson.

I''m sympathetic with the economic injustices many Latin American leftists have been fighting for SO many years. But, ultimately HOW you fight that fight is more important than WHY. The FARC deserve to get whats coming to them. More for kidnappings like these than for their heartfelt desire for a more equitable Columbia.

[feelfree4u]

Three more mercenaries in the U.S.

Yuck.

[feelfree4u]

Congratulations to Ms. Betancourt on her release!

[abbe91]

"All politics aside, it appears that this was a fantastically conceived and executed operation. I am ecstatic at the rescue of the innocent, and those convicted without due process of law.

Posted by Humanavance at 05:47 AM : Jul 03, 2008"

I agree with you. It makes you wonder how bin Laden is still at large ...

[whiskyrocker]

This is going to make a great book/movie. I''d imagine there''s been some people executed among the RAFC ranks after this.

[xlib]

Ah, if only the messiah had gone to Columbia one could imagine the press coverage. Hey, maybe when he goes on his appeasment tour to Venezuela, Cuba & Iran he''ll cause something truly, truly wonderful. Funny how mccain gets slammed for going to Columbia and the empty suit gets "praised" for wanting to go to Iran, Venezuela & Cuba. No double standard there.

[xlib]

I read some more of the posts. Nice to see that the elitism is still rampant.So, just what gives any of you the right to judge these people and what they do for a living, what right?

[ajaxtheleast]

We now know that Columbia has a

five-year plan to outsmart rebels

and it''s called a miracle.

[yankeerebel7]

Going from being held captive in the Colombian jungle to tasting sweet freedom in the great state of Texas....Talk about a great 4th of July.

[mycomment-2009]

Now, let`s see if we can free the 170,000 US hostages being held in Iraq.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:53 AM : Jul 03, 2008

Do you EVER have a nice thing to say about ANYTHING?

[barbaraf4]

"Behind the scenes, however, Colombia''s armed forces were closing in on the rebels, with the help of billions of dollars in U.S. military support."
~~~~~~~
While I am delighted that the hostages have been rescued, I am curious into whose pocket those "billions of dollars" went.

We have become so used to hearing these large sums of money being thrown around (beginning with the World Trade Center), that we are now tone deaf. Billions and billions of dollars have flowed out of this administration for many questionable projects and endeavors. I don''t recall being asked, as a taxpayer, if I wanted my money spend on any of Bush''s follies.

[trishab4]

CBS :Oil Soars On Report Of U.S. Supply Decline
Price Nears $146 Per Barrel; Latest Spike Puts Cost Up 50 Percent Since End Of Last Year

- The released hostages will look to go back to their hostage-takers, being hosted, fed free. Or may ask the federal government for subsidies to buy mules or donkeys in order to move around!

-Good ole time! LOL!

[chad55555]

Seems to me they were help a long time when you consider American special forces,CIA and FBI are there to protect Americans. I guess it''s just in the movies,MAIN THING IS THEIR HOME NOW,

[barbaraf4]

I am a little disappointed that our religous lunatic fringe hasn''t checked in yet.

[naimiles]

Please tell me Mccain and Lieberman''s sole purpose in going to Columbia was because someone at the State Department, or maybe be an "anonymous" tipster, advised them that a rescue was going to happen.

[observer2020]

They actually were contractors hired by a large corporation. Exactly what they were doing there is between them and their corporation, and maybe the government (but only select parts of it). In other words...we''ll never get the skinny on this one.

Welcome back!

[naimiles]

I watch the video of McCain talking about when he was briefed by President Uribe. He told reportes that it was after dinner. Lieberman and Sindy both chimed in "It was before dinner" and McCain say oh ya "before dinner." It''s like there really trying to keep their story''s straight. Either that or McCain needs Lieberman around for his functioning brain. McCain''s may be fading.

[observer2020]

Just had a thought (yeah, that happens once in a while), they may get a look at the economy now and may go running back to Columbia! Head for the hills, the economy is falling!

[talkingham]

Gee, what a lucky break that this happened while McShame just happened to be in Columbia.

[bobnjersey]

[So, just what gives any of you the right to judge these people and what they do for a living, what right?]
[Posted by Xlib at 07:16 AM : Jul 03, 2008]

it''s closely related to what allows these guys to do what they choose to do for a living?

[ajaxtheleast]

Sorry, but the "miracle" is a sham.

Staged.

The families dont realize that this
"miracle" could''ve decended from the heavens
long ago. , , ,

That this "miracle" is meant to be
part of a bigger "miracle" for John McCain.

And to rebels running around lighting cigars
with thousand-dollar bills this is a "miracle".

Some still haven''t learned that any minuetly-
defined operation by the military is a cover.

And the way that it us ultra-trumped-up by
99 percent of all of the sites is telltale.

They say it''s "Shame on me" if fooled or
lied to for the second time.

So what is it , , your 10th, 15th time?

[winslowe1]

Well, the rescue was successful, proving Jimmy Carter wasn''t involved.

[ioweign]

Home Sweet Home For 3 U.S. Hostages

Held By Colombian Rebels Since 2003, Americans Saved With 12 Others

#####

Now for the 150,000 in Iraq, held by Bush and Big Oil...

[ioweign]

So, just what gives any of you the right to judge these people and what they do for a living, what right?

Posted by Xlib at 07:16 AM : Jul 03, 2008

That is what Pro-Choice says...