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Freed U.S. soldiers greeted in Germany

RELATED VIDEO
CNN's Wolf Blitzer interviews Jesse Jackson (May 2)
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CNN's Matthew Chance reports from Landstuhl, Germany, on the freed U.S. servicemen. (May 2)
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Jesse Jackson news conference
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Jesse Jackson reports the release of U.S. soldiers from Yugoslavia (May 1)
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Andrew Ramirez's mother says, 'He looks very healthy' (April 30)
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 ALSO:
2 NATO warplanes down in Kosovo operation

More refugees pour into Albania, Macedonia

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InteractiveINTERACTIVE:
Freed POWs image gallery
 

May 2, 1999
Web posted at: 11:56 a.m. EDT (1556 GMT)


In this story:

Isolation in prison difficult

Family members heading to Germany

RELATED STORIES, SITES icon



RAMSTEIN, Germany (CNN) -- Three U.S. servicemen left the Balkans on Sunday after more than a month as prisoners of Yugoslavia, while their families prepared for a reunion at a U.S. military base in Germany.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone and Spc. Steven Gonzales arrived at the U.S. air base in Ramstein on Sunday afternoon. They were greeted by an honor guard and quickly taken to a military hospital for a medical examination.

"At the outset, they all look to be in pretty good shape," the hospital's chief of professional services, Col. Mack Blanton, said after an initial examination. Blanton said he expects the three to remain at the hospital for two or three days for standard tests.

Stone, Ramirez and Gonzales were released to the Rev. Jesse Jackson earlier Sunday after the American civil rights leader appealed to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Once across the Yugoslav border, the soldiers were greeted with salutes -- and hugs -- from military personnel at an air base in Zagreb, Croatia.

"I just want to say I'm happy to be back," Ramirez said before boarding the U.S. Air Force plane that would fly them to Ramstein. All three soldiers thanked God and the delegation of clergy led by Jackson that secured their release.

Jackson repeated his appeal that allied forces view the release as a diplomatic gesture from Milosevic and respond in kind.

"It was an unpopular decision to release them," Jackson said.

The former prisoners also said they hoped their ordeal would help pave the way to an end to the Kosovo crisis.

"I hope that in some way our release will lead to further negotiations for peace," Stone said.

Earlier, the trio walked into Croatia from Yugoslavia, holding hands with Jackson and chanting "Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last" -- a phrase from one of the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

U.S. President Bill Clinton said Sunday he was glad the soldiers were released, and he thanked Jackson for helping secure their freedom.

"All of America is anticipating their safe return," Clinton said. But he said their release will not change NATO's plans to continue its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.

Isolation in prison difficult

Ramirez, Stone and Gonzales all said that they were well-treated by their Yugoslav captors, although their isolation from each other was strenuous.

iconRELATED AUDIO:
Listen to the former prisoners recall their experience and what got them through it
2.1M/26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound
3.1M/37secAIFF or WAV sound
221K/19secAIFF or WAV sound

Stone explains how they were treated by Yugoslav guards during their imprisonment
901K/11 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Jackson hopes this gesture will open the lines of communication between NATO and Serbia
2.1M/26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound
 

"I'd say for myself personally, the lowest point was probably a couple of weeks into the captivity after a week of isolation," Stone said, "Just prior to our Red Cross visit may have been the hardest time."

But that visit from the Red Cross, which brought them books and messages from home, was "the best time," he said.

Stone said he drew an American flag on a piece of toilet paper and kept it "as a symbol of my faith in my country that they were doing everything they could to get us released."

Ramirez and Gonzales said they were grateful to be free.

"We were treated very well, and we're doing good," Ramirez said. "We're healthy. As you can see, we're very happy. Mostly happy."

Family members heading to Germany

In the United States, family members of the three soldiers were elated at the news of their release and prepared to fly to Ramstein for a reunion.

In Baldwin Park, California, Vivian Ramirez, Ramirez' mother, said she would immediately travel to Europe to meet her son. Asked the first thing she would do after hearing of his release she said, with tears streaming down "I'm going to pack!' and later she reported that "I've called all my family."

As for Jackson, Vivian Ramirez said "He will be my hero. Muchas gracias."

In Huntsville, Texas, Rosie Gonzales also praised Jackson's efforts and said she could not wait to see her son.

"I'll just look in his eyes, and we'll hold each other," she said.

Stone's family said the 32 days since his capture have been an "emotional rollercoaster."

"Until he got on the plane last night, I wasn't all that excited, because I didn't want to be let down," Stone's father Jim told CNN's Ed Garsten.

The whole family is "happy and grateful for Chris's release," and eager to get to Germany, he said.

Stone's mother Edith added, "Obviously, the power of prayer can work."

Correspondents Walter Rodgers, Mike Boettcher, Jim Hill and Ed Garsten contributed to this report.



RELATED STORIES:
Milosevic to free U.S. soldiers, Yugoslav news agency says
May 1, 1999
U.S. POWs send video messages home
April 30, 1999
Jesse Jackson to meet captured U.S. soldiers in Yugoslavia
April 30, 1999
Intense NATO bombardment targets Yugoslav capital
April 29, 1999
Macedonia says refugee problem overwhelming
April 29, 1999
Russia, U.S. disagree on Yugoslavia peace plans
April 29, 1999
Captured soldiers send first messages home
April 28, 1999
Clinton warns Congress not to double Kosovo appropriations request
April 28, 1999

RELATED SITES:
Extensive list of Kosovo-related sites:
  • Kosovo

Yugoslavia:
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia official site
      • Kesovo and Metohija facts
  • Serbia Ministry of Information
  • Serbia Now! News

Kosovo:
  • Kosova Crisis Center
  • Kosova Liberation Peace Movement
  • Kosovo - from Albanian.com

Military:
  • F-117s arrive at Aviano to support possible NATO operations
  • NATO official site
  • BosniaLINK - U.S. Dept. of Defense
  • U.S. Navy images from Operation Allied Force
  • U.K. Ministry of Defence - Kosovo news
  • U.K. Royal Air Force - Kosovo news
  • Jane's Defence - Kosovo Crisis


Relief:
  • U.S. Agency for International Development (Kosovo aid)
  • Doctors of the World
  • InterAction
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Kosovo Humanitarian Disaster Forces Hundreds of Thousands from their Homes
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Kosovo Relief
  • ReliefWeb: Home page
  • The Jewish Agency for Israel
  • Mercy International


Media:
  • Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
  • Independent Yugoslav radio stations B92
  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
  • United States Information Agency - Kosovo Crisis

Other:
  • Expanded list of related sites on Kosovo
  • 1997 view of Kosovo from space - Eurimage
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