Terry Anderson, a longtime Related Press correspondent held hostage in Lebanon for almost seven years, has died on the age of 76.
A former Marine who fought in Vietnam, Anderson switched to journalism and reported on the Center East.
The journalist’s daughter, Sulome Anderson, mentioned Sunday that the veteran journalist died at his residence in Greenwood Lake, New York. The reason for dying was problems from latest coronary heart surgical procedure, she mentioned in an announcement.
Julie Tempo, government editor of the AP, paid tribute to Anderson.
“Terry was deeply dedicated to on-the-ground eyewitness reporting and demonstrated nice bravery and resolve, each in his journalism and through his years held hostage. We’re so appreciative of the sacrifices he and his household made as the results of his work,” she mentioned.
In 1985, Anderson was considered one of a number of Westerners kidnapped by Hezbollah throughout a time of civil battle in Lebanon.
Supported by Iran, the militants indicated they had been retaliating towards Israel’s use of American weapons in earlier strikes on Lebanon. Over the course of two,454 days, Anderson was held hostage in round 20 areas throughout Lebanon.
He was launched in 1991 because the civil battle ended. After being freed, Anderson met his daughter for the primary time, when she was six years previous. The journalist’s accomplice had been pregnant when the militants took him captive.
Talking to the AP, Sulome Anderson mentioned of her father, “He by no means appreciated to be known as a hero, however that’s what everybody continued in calling him.”
“I noticed him per week in the past and my accomplice requested him if he had something on his bucket listing, something that he needed to do. He mentioned, ‘I’ve lived a lot and I’ve accomplished a lot. I’m content material,’” she added.
Over time, Anderson taught at varied journalism applications together with the Columbia Graduate Faculty of Journalism, Scripps Faculty of Journalism at Ohio College, and the College of Florida.
He was additionally concerned with advocacy teams together with the Committee to Shield Journalists, or CPJ, the place he served as an honorary chair, and the Vietnam Kids’s Fund.
“Anderson’s public advocacy was instrumental in liberating journalists from jail and defending them towards the worst abuses,” former CPJ Government Director Joel Simon mentioned in an announcement.
“However what distinguished Terry was his private and infrequently personal interventions on behalf of journalists held hostage world wide. Terry recommended many households experiencing helplessness and trauma. His deep compassion helped them perceive they weren’t alone and bolstered their spirits within the darkest instances,” Simon added.
The Nationwide Press Membership additionally paid tribute to Anderson, saying in an announcement that he “reminded us that journalism is a harmful enterprise, and international correspondents, specifically, take nice private threat to maintain the general public knowledgeable.”
For a number of years, Anderson was the longest-held American journalist hostage. That distinction is now held by Austin Tice, a journalist held in Syria for nearly 12 years.