Stone, left, Gonzales and Ramirez are welcomed back to their base in Germany RELATED VIDEO Watch the former POWs' speeches (May 6) Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Rabbi in Jackson delegation: 'We took a chance for peace' G-8 countries endorse Kosovo plan  MESSAGE BOARD: Crisis in Kosovo

May 6, 1999
Web posted at: 2:15 p.m. EDT (1815 GMT)

SCHWEINFURT, Germany (CNN) -- Three U.S. soldiers received a spirited welcome Thursday at the military base in Germany where they are stationed, following more than a month of captivity in Yugoslavia.

"I knew this day would come. I knew I would one day fall back into the ranks of the troops I left," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, 24, of Los Angeles.

Ramirez, along with Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone of Smiths Creek, Michigan and Spc. Steven Gonzales, 24, of Huntsville, Texas, were captured by Yugoslav forces near the Yugoslavia- Macedonia border on March 31.

"I don't want anything like this to happen to anyone else," Ramirez added.

The three men, standing solemnly at attention in a row, received a salute from their superiors, before an assembly of family, soldiers and members of the local branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

One officer in their cavalry unit managed a moment of informality. "Welcome back to the Cav," he said.

"Every day I was in captivity, I prayed for a miracle," said Stone. "It was delivered in the form of Rev. Jackson and his delegation."

All three soldiers thanked Jackson, who with a group of clergy secured their release from authorities in Belgrade on Sunday.

Gonzales thanked God, who he called "my fortress and my refuge," and members of his unit.

"I knew those guys were doing the best they could the moment they heard our distress call," he said.

After taking 30 days leave, the three former prisoners of war will likely return to their units in Germany, Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said earlier this week.

He said initial debriefings with the servicemen have reaffirmed U.S. officials' belief that the soldiers were captured inside Macedonia.

All three suffered minor injuries. In addition, they all had abrasions on their wrists, apparently from being handcuffed, and had lost between eight and 14 pounds.

The soldiers earlier told reporters their scars and bruises stemmed from their capture, but said they were generally treated well after that.

The Army said the injuries were caused by "trauma," but refused to elaborate, citing a continuing investigation.

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