Terry Anderson, a US Journalist held hostage in Lebanon for almost seven years during Lebanon’s Civil War has died at 76.
Anderson was the chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) when he was captured by Islamist militants in 1985. Soon enough, he became part of what was the Lebanon hostage crisis.
“He never liked to be called a hero, but that’s what everyone persisted in calling him,” she said.
“Though my father’s life was marked by extreme suffering during his time as a hostage in captivity, he found a quiet, comfortable peace in recent years.
“I know he would choose to be remembered not by his very worst experience, but through his humanitarian work with the Vietnam Children’s Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans and many other incredible causes.”
Louis Boccardi, who ran AP during Anderson’s captivity, also remembered him as a “hero”.
“The word ‘hero’ gets tossed around a lot but applying it to Terry Anderson just enhances it,” Mr Boccardi said.
The majority of the more than 100 held between 1982 and 1992 were from the US and western Europe, including Church of England envoy Terry Waite who was taken hostage by the group holding Anderson when negotiations broke down on 20 January 1987.
Anderson – who spent much of the time blindfolded and was forced to sleep on a thin, dirty mattress on the floor recalled that he almost went insane.
He was eventually released in 1991 as the civil war ended – following 2,454 days in captivity which made him the longest-held Western hostage.
After his release, Anderson taught journalism at various US colleges including Columbia University in New York before retiring in 2015
