Statement of Gratitude: Three Americans Rescued by Columbia

Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (July 4, 2008) -- Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes (left to right, center), freed July 2 after more than five years of captivity in Colombia, stand with Col. Wendy Martinson, Garrison Commander of Fort Sam Houston; Brig. Gen. James Gilman, Commander of Brooke Army Medical Center; and Maj. Gen. Keith M. Huber, Commander of U.S. Army South; and members of their staffs. Photo by Norma Guerra

Public statement by Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell

"First, we want to assure everyone that we're all doing fine. Words alone can never possibly express the thrill and excitement we feel to be back home in the United States of America with our families at our side.

There are obviously many people we want to thank. Most of all, we want to thank our families: for their patience, for their love and for their support. For five and a half long years, we all hoped and prayed this day would come. Now that it has, we're just overwhelmed with emotion. The love and the joy we're all experiencing is beyond description

Read more ....

US defense contractors Keith Stansell, Mark Gonsalves and
Thomas Howes since 2003 in the jungles of Colombia.