Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference West Point, New York
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Reporter specifically the two people from Dallas, since we re from Dallas, Englemann and McKeel, welcome home. There have been reports that there are some mental problems among you trying to adjust, not necessarily specifically you, but all of you trying to adjust to life back here, trying to put in the back of your minds the problems in the real bad times you had back in Iran. Could you please comment on that Johnny and Robert. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Englemann. I d like to say that it was a period of extreme stress. But what impressed me most boarding the plane, the Algerian plane at Mehrabad airport, was the ability to just close the door on it as we all seemed to exhibit. The humor and camaraderie on the plane. We d forgot a lot of it and a lot of the stress was relieved just by walking aboard the aircraft. I have great faith in all of us here that we will adjust and are adjusting and that we ll be able to resume normal lives. I myself feel very well physically and mentally. Sgt. John D. McKeel. I don t know how the rumor got out about some of us hostages supposed to be suffering from some mental condition. But I feel from the people I ve been talking to since my stay here at West Point, that we re all alright. And as soon as they let us get home, especially the Marines, get back to chasing women, everything s going to be perfect. (laughter) We are all alright, physically and mentally. Col. Thomas E. Schaefer. I d like to make one comment on that. You know in a very short time we got in two completely different environments. The biggest problem in my day in captivity was trying to decide what I was going to eat with my rice. And 48 hours later, President Carter is embracing me with tears in his eyes. I have problems coping with that. But I ve got a temporary problem, we all do. We ll be pretty strong citizens here in a few short days.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Reporter. I want to direct it specifically to you Mr. Laingen. I m sorry to be disruptive, but I believe I will probably be the only person to ask this question. You talked about, there was a lot in the press about this question of torture. And frankly I think it s quite the height of hypocrisy for the Unites States government to talk about torture. And I understand that the Iranians students identifies you as a CIA operative in Iran. (laughter) And what the CIA did under the auspices of the United States government to Iranian people. People were mutilated. People were killed. I want to know what the nature of the so called torture Bruce Laingen. I didn t hear the question and we are running out of time. Reporter military rescue and whether or not you think it prolonged your captivity there. Elizabeth Ann Swift. I just want to appeal to all of you out there. I know that the question of torture is one which has been of great interest to the press and I just want to appeal to the press to be very, very accurate in reporting what we say. The Iranian students, I don t know about everybody else, but while with Kate and I they were constantly saying that the US press were misreporting this and we were constantly telling them that the US press was free and a good responsible press. And I d like the US press to prove that. Now I at the moment have a case and point which I am very concerned over which is Newsweek Magazine has a statement by me, a quote by me, on torture. I never talked to anybody from Newsweek. I never said this to anybody, any other correspondent and it s not true. So I just hope you all will be very careful with your quotes of us.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Bruce Laingen. Please repeat the question. Reporter. military rescue whether or not you think it prolonged your captivity. Bruce Laingen. I think we all have views on that issue. I think all of us however are reluctant to speak to it very directly until we learn more about the plans and modalities involved in that rescue. I have very strong feelings myself about anything that would have endangered the lives of any one of my colleagues. And I suspect most of us feel that way.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Bruce Laingen. I would just like to make one brief comment. We have received countless messages from people all over the world and particularly from this country of course. I d like to read one back to you that in effect I m we are sending back to the staff and students of Neffs Elementary School in Neffs, Ohio. It applies to them as much as it does to us. You are America. Its strength, faith and never ending courage. Our thoughts and prayer were, still are and always will be with you. God bless you. Thank you.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Hostages get up to leave
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Paul Smirnoff, PBS Reporter, summarizes the press conference, discusses other ceremonies planned to celebrate the hostages' return.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
Title slate.
Returning Iran Hostages Press Conference - Audio qulaity is natural to master
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