Terry Anderson: The American Journalist Held Hostage in Lebanon
Early Life and Career
Terry Alan Anderson was born on October 27, 1947, in Lorain, Ohio.
His father, Glen, was the village police officer. When Anderson was young, his family moved to Batavia in western New York. Anderson graduated from Batavia High School in 1965 and went on to attend Syracuse University, where he earned a degree in journalism.
After graduating from college, Anderson worked as a reporter for several newspapers before joining the Associated Press (AP) in 1979. He was assigned to the AP's Beirut bureau in 1982, at the height of the Lebanese Civil War.
Anderson's reporting from Lebanon won him several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1985. He became known for his insightful and compassionate coverage of the conflict.
Kidnapping and Captivity
On March 16, 1985, Anderson was kidnapped by Islamic militants while driving to work in Beirut. He was held captive for nearly seven years, during which time he was subjected to torture and solitary confinement.
Anderson's kidnapping and captivity drew international attention. His family and friends campaigned for his release, and the US government worked behind the scenes to negotiate with his captors. In 1991, Anderson was finally released and returned to the United States.
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