Three passports with the last known image of the three men,
their proof-of-life, had been prepared by
the American Embassy Bogota Consular Section in record time.
The Ambassador (William Brownfield) would present them with these symbols
in a small ceremony, welcoming them home.
[US Embassy Photo via Facebook]
Slightly over a year ago, Operation Jaque conducted in July 2, 2008, in Guaviare, Colombia secured the released of former Colombian presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt and the three American military contractors for Northrop Grummanwho were held hostage by the FARC: Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell.
The three former hostages have released a book about their experience (“Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Columbian Jungle”) earlier this year. Ingrid Betancourt is reportedly finishing her own book about the ordeal.
The US Embassy Bogota in its new Facebook page has released for the first time, some of the pictures taken that day in Tolemaida and Bogotá. The post-rescue photos are posted here.
