Philippines Survivor Holding Up Well

Gracia Burnham, the American lone survivor of a year-long hostage drama in the Philippines, is "at peace" despite the death of her husband in a gun battle, a fellow missionary who met her on Saturday said.

Martin Burnham, 42, and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, 48, were killed during a rescue attempt on Friday when Philippine troops clashed with Muslim rebels holding them hostage in Zamboanga del Norte province on southern Mindanao island.

Gracia Burnham, 43, suffered a bullet wound in the leg but was rescued from the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who have been linked to Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The Muslim extremist rebels who had held them eluded pursuers Saturday but U.S.-trained Philippine troops said the guerrillas are more vulnerable and scrambling to avoid capture.

And CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports that, far from being frightened by what happened to the Burnhams, people in the American missionary community are undaunted and determined to carry on.

Just next month, says Bowers, another family from Rose Hill, Kansas will head for the Philippines taking along their 7 children.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pledged that troops would now unleash their full arsenal on the rebels because Philippine forces will not have to worry about harming hostages.

"Now they can really be in hot pursuit and they are doing that," Arroyo said.

On Saturday, the troops displayed the trademark sunglasses of the Abu Sayyaf leader as evidence the fighters were on a desperate - perhaps final - scramble in the southern Philippines.

The sunglasses and backpack of guerrilla chief Abu Sabaya were recovered after Philippine troops ambushed the group Friday in a mountainous area near Sirawai town, about 470 miles south of Manila, the military said.

The Philippine leader said she feared Abu Sayyaf leaders might flee the country, and Manila would urge Malaysia and Indonesia to detain them if they seek refuge in those Muslim nations.

Robert Meisel, vice chairman of New Tribes Mission, a Florida-based missionary group to which the couple belonged, told Reuters Gracia was recovering and in good spirits.

"It all happened quickly. They weren't expecting it. It's difficult and traumatic, but she is very much at peace with this," Meisel said after he met Gracia in Manila.

Gracia had surgery in southern Zamboanga city and was flown from there to Manila for further treatment on Friday. Meisel did not disclose where she was.

Martin Burnham's body was flown Saturday to Kadena Air Base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, where it likely would be autopsied, U.S. officials said.

Local newspapers said the Abu Sayyaf shot Martin several times during the rescue attempt but military officials said they were still verifying whether the two hostages were killed by their captors or in crossfire.

U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Gracia Burnham would return to the United States "in a few days" and that she was recovering well.

She "was very alert, cheerful and very insightful about her experience" during a private, 20-minute meeting Saturday night with Arroyo at a U.S. Embassy-owned compound in Manila, Ricciardone said.

The U.S. Embassy said Gracia, who has three children, was in telephone contact with her family in Kansas.

During their many months in the jungle, the Burnhams had meditated on death. But it was Martin who had vowed they would get out alive while Gracia had spoken of dying.

"I think they had anticipated possibly that happening and so they've talked about that a lot together," Meisel said.

In a videotape of the couple released last November, Martin spoke of his determination to return home alive, saying: "We plan to come home at the first available minute."

Gracia, wearing a Muslim veil and speaking between sobs, said: "We always look at each other and I'd tell Martin, I love you, I want you to know before I die."

Carolina quoted Gracia as saying Martin had a premonition of his death and two days before the fighting wrote a letter to his children, which was retrieved by the soldiers.

"Please, get that letter, it is important to me," Gracia was quoted as saying by Carolina.

Among Gracia's personal belongings retrieved from the site were family photos, a driver's license, residence certificate in the Philippines and cosmetic powder.

Meisel described Gracia as doing "pretty good" despite her husband's death and her wound.

"She seems to be in good spirits. She's recovering nicely. Obviously it's still very difficult for her, but she seems to be doing very well under the circumstances," he said.

The American couple, who have lived in the Philippines since 1986, was abducted on May 27, 2001 — a day after they went to a southern beach resort for their 18th wedding anniversary.

"She was very appreciative for all the help and for the prayers and everybody that have tried to help her," Meisel said.