Terry A. Anderson

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For other people with the same name, see Terry Anderson (disambiguation).

Terry A. Anderson
Anderson in 1996
Born(1947-10-27)October 27, 1947
Lorain, Ohio, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 2024(2024-04-21) (aged 76)
Greenwood Lake, New York, U.S.
Alma materIowa State University
OccupationJournalist
Employers
Known forHostage in Lebanon (1985–1991)
Spouses
Mihoko Anderson
​
(divorced)​
  • Madeleine Bassil
Children2
Signature

Terry Alan Anderson (October 27, 1947 – April 21, 2024) was an American journalist and combat veteran. He reported for the Associated Press.[1] In 1985, he was taken hostage by Shia Hezbollah militants of the Islamic Jihad Organization in Lebanon[2] and held until 1991. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully for the Ohio State Senate.

Early life[edit]

Anderson was born in Lorain, Ohio, on October 27, 1947.[3] He was raised in Batavia, New York, and graduated from Batavia High School in 1965.[4] A professional journalist, he was in the United States Marine Corps for six years, serving as a combat journalist. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[5] After his discharge he enrolled at Iowa State University, graduating in 1974 with dual degrees: one in journalism and mass communication, the other in political science. During his studies at Iowa State, he was employed as a part time photographer and reporter at the KRNT radio and television station in Des Moines.[3][6][7] He then joined the Associated Press, serving in Asia and Africa before being assigned to Lebanon as chief Middle Eastern correspondent in 1983.[3]

Hostage in Lebanon[edit]

Main article: Lebanon hostage crisis
Anderson being welcomed home to Lorain, Ohio, on June 21, 1992

On March 16, 1985, Anderson had just finished a tennis game when he was abducted from the street in Beirut, placed in the trunk of a car, and taken to a secret location where he was imprisoned.[8] For the next six years and nine months, he was held captive, being moved periodically to new sites. His captors were a group of Hezbollah Shiite Muslims who were supported by Iran in supposed retaliation for Israel's use of U.S. weapons and aid in its 1982–83 strikes against Muslim and Druze targets in Lebanon. He was the longest-held of the Western hostages captured by Hezbollah in an effort to drive U.S. military forces from Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.[9][10][a]

Anderson was released on December 4, 1991,[12] and said he had forgiven his captors.[13] Later, when asked if he would return to the Middle East as a correspondent, he stated, "I wouldn't go there for a million dollars. It is very dangerous."[14]

Post-captivity life[edit]

After his release, Anderson taught courses at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism[15] and at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.[16] He wrote a best selling memoir of his experience as a hostage, titled Den of Lions.[17][18][19] He filed suit against the Iranian government for his captivity, and in 2002 was awarded a $324 million settlement from frozen Iranian assets.[20] Estimates put the amount he actually received at $26 million.[16]

Anderson for some time lived in Nicholasville, Kentucky, teaching journalism and diversity at the University of Kentucky.[21] In 2009, Anderson joined the faculty of the School of Journalism at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.[22][23] In November 2009, he filed for bankruptcy under chapter 7.[24] In 2011, he became a visiting professional at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.[25][26] In 2013, he acted as Honorary Chair of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-profit that supports press freedom around the globe.[27] In 2014, he moved to Hidden Village in Gainesville, Florida, to teach a course in international journalism at the University of Florida.[28]

Philanthropy[edit]

With some of his settlement, Anderson and actress Kieu Chinh co-founded the Vietnam Children's Fund, which has built more than 50 schools in Vietnam.[29][30]

Anderson also created the Father Lawrence Jenco Foundation with a $100,000 endowment to honor and support people who do charitable and community service projects in Appalachia. Lawrence Jenco was a former Catholic Relief Services director in Beirut who also was kidnapped. The two men met in jail.[31] Jenco, who died in 1996, wrote his memoirs, Bound to Forgive, for which Anderson wrote the preface.[32]

2004 State Senate campaign[edit]

In December 2003 Anderson announced his candidacy on the Democratic ticket to represent the 20th District in the Ohio Senate. His opponent was Republican candidate Joy Padgett, who had been appointed to the seat earlier in the term. Padgett ran controversial ads suggesting that Anderson would be soft on terrorism: the ads showed Anderson shaking hands with one of his former kidnappers.[33] He received 46% of the vote[34] in a district that leans Republican; the seat has been held by Republicans since 1977.[35]

Personal life[edit]

Anderson was married and divorced three times.[36] He met his first wife, Mihoko "Mickey" Anderson, while he was a Marine stationed with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service in Japan. They had one daughter, but later divorced.[37] After 1982, he became engaged to Madeleine Bassil, a Lebanese native from a Maronite Christian family; they had one daughter, Sulome Anderson, born in 1985,[37][38][39] three months after he was taken hostage.[40][41][42] Anderson and Bassil were married after his release, but later divorced.[36]

A fan of blues music, Anderson owned the Blue Gator from early 2002 until mid-2008, a blues bar in Athens, Ohio, which hosted regional and national acts.[43][44][45]

In an interview in the spring 1995 newsletter of the School of Journalism Alumni Association, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, by Will Norton Jr., Anderson is quoted:

Is there going to be peace in the world? I'm a Christian. I believe eventually there will be, at the second coming. I think we are moving into an era of greater, or if not peace, at least of greater prosperity. Think about it: In the last 10 to 15 years there are hundreds of millions of people in the world who are living in a greater degree of individual responsibility and freedom and perhaps dignity than there were 15 years ago. That's true in eastern Europe, in Latin America, even in Asia. That great process of history, of thousands of years of an increase in a dignity of the individual, seems to have been halted for a good period of time by the growth of totalitarian societies, and those are breaking up now. Certainly the totalitarian instinct has not gone away. There are a great many wars going on and struggles by peoples, but that ice jam, that blockage that was representative of the domination of a third of the world by communism, is gone. I think that's reason for great optimism.[46]

Anderson died at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York, on April 21, 2024, at the age of 76. He had recently undergone heart surgery.[36][47][48][49]

Anderson's papers are held at Iowa State University.[50]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ While Anderson was in Lebanon during the civil war, others held captive were several U.S. citizens, including William Francis Buckley, CIA station chief in Beirut; Thomas Sutherland, an administrator at the American University of Beirut; Catholic priest, Father Lawrence Jenco; David P. Jacobsen, administrator at the American University Hospital of Beirut; Presbyterian minister Benjamin Weir; Jerry Levin, CNN's Beirut bureau chief; Frank Reed, head of the Lebanese International School; Joseph Cicippio, deputy controller of the American University of Beirut; Edward Tracy, a bookseller and writer in Beirut; and Professors Alann Steen, Jesse Turner, and Robert Polhill.[2] The special envoy Terry Waite, who went to Lebanon to negotiate the release of numerous hostages held in Lebanon including Terry Anderson, became a hostage and was involved in the Irangate scandal.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Specter, Michael (December 11, 1991). "Terry Anderson Receives Hero's Welcome at A.P.". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Lebanon: The Hostage Crisis". December 1987. Archived from the original on September 25, 2004. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Barron, James (March 16, 1990). "A Lost American in Lebanon: After 5 Years, Trail Is Faint". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  4. ^ "Bust of Anderson Finds New Home at Batavia High". The Buffalo News. April 9, 1993. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2011. A bust of former hostage Terry Anderson, consigned to a cluttered storeroom a few months ago after standing in the Genesee Country Mall during much of his captivity, is headed for a place of honor in Batavia High School. Anderson's classmate Stephen M. Hawley, to whom he had entrusted the bust, chose to donate it to the school from which they both graduated in 1965.
  5. ^ Say, Peggy (1991). Forgotten. Simon & Schuster. pp. 9, 14–15. ISBN 978-0-671-70155-0.
  6. ^ KCCI staff (April 22, 2024). "KCCI archives: Look back at KCCI's coverage around release of hostage Terry Anderson". KCCI. Des Moines. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  7. ^ KCCI staff (April 22, 2024). "Reaction to death of Terry Anderson, ISU grad and AP reporter held hostage in Middle East". KCCI. Des Moines. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Fort Worth Star-Telegram 10 Dec 1987, page 12". Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ^ "Terry Anderson, reporter held hostage for years in Lebanon, dies at 76; remembered for "great bravery and resolve"". CBS News. April 22, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "This Day in History: Journalist Terry Anderson Abducted in Beirut". Voice of America. March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Meldrum, Andrew; Weber, Christopher (April 21, 2024). "Terry Anderson, AP reporter abducted in Lebanon and held captive for years, has died at 76". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Hedges, Chris (December 5, 1991). "The Last U.S. Hostage: Anderson, Last U.S. Hostage, is Freed by Captors in Beirut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "KY: Former Mideast hostage Terry A. Anderson speaks to college". Apex MediaWire. April 15, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ Magel, Todd (April 22, 2024). "Retired KCCI Anchor Kevin Cooney recalls the late Terry Anderson who was a hostage in the Middle East in the 1980s". KCCI. Des Moines. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  15. ^ "Colleagues, friends pay tribute to late American journalist Terry Anderson". Voice of America. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Phillips, Jim (June 25, 2008). "Anderson may lose Athens farm". Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  17. ^ Anderson, Terry A. (1994). Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years. G.K. Hall. ISBN 978-0-8161-5931-4.
  18. ^ Sheridan, Michael (April 22, 1994). "BOOK REVIEW / Something has gone, never to return: 'Den of Lions' - Terry Anderson: Hodder & Stoughton, 9.99 pounds: Michael Sheridan finds diamonds in the memoirs of Terry Anderson and other hostages". The Independent. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years by Terry Anderson". www.publishersweekly.com. August 30, 1993. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "تری اندرسون، گروگان سابق شبه‌نظامیان شیعه لبنانی در ۷۶ سالگی درگذشت" [Terry Anderson, former hostage of Lebanese Shiite militia, dies at 76]. BBC (in Persian). April 22, 2024. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Alessi, Ryan (December 19, 2008). "Former Middle East hostage Terry Anderson to teach at UK". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2010.
  22. ^ "Former AP Reporter/Middle East Hostage Teaching at UK". University of Kentucky News. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009.
  23. ^ "Terry Anderson Gives University of Kentucky Students a Global Perspective". YouTube.com. September 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
  24. ^ Phillips, Jim (November 13, 2009). "Terry Anderson, ex-hostage, files for bankruptcy". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013.
  25. ^ McChesney, Charles (April 30, 2011). "Ex-hostage Terry Anderson to teach at Syracuse University's Newhouse School next year". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  26. ^ Sawyer, Liz (December 7, 2011). "Tough to define: Professor remains optimistic 20 years after being taken prisoner". The Daily Orange. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "About CPJ: Board of Directors". Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  28. ^ Schweers, Jeff (May 3, 2014). "Former hostage Terry Anderson, who will teach at UF, remains passionate about journalism: Terry Anderson is still settling into his new home in Hidden Village and getting to know the lay of the land". The Gainesville Sun. Gainesville, Florida. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  29. ^ "Anderson, Khashoggi, Ressa and Ut named SPJ Fellows of the Society". Society of Professional Journalists. August 22, 2019. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
    C. McKinney, Joan (March 31, 2010). "CU to hold 'Conversation with Terry Anderson' April 15". Campbellsville University. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  30. ^ Rafael García, Sarah (March 23, 2022). "The Women of the Vietnamese American Arts Scene in Orange County". KOCE-TV. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  31. ^ Kiesewetter, John (February 9, 2002). "Terry Anderson talks tough: Ex-hostage would like to tell Daniel Pearl's kidnappers, 'You've made a mistake. It's never going to work.'". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  32. ^ Jenco, Lawrence Martin (May 1995). Bound to Forgive: The Pilgrimage of Reconciliation of a Beirut Hostage. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press. ISBN 978-0877935544.
  33. ^ Ridgeway, James (October 19, 2004). "GOP Target: Terry Anderson". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on February 15, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2005.
  34. ^ "2004 election results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 2004. Archived from the original on June 21, 2006.
  35. ^ Fischer, Ben (December 30, 2003). "Anderson announces candidacy". Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 23, 2004.
  36. ^ a b c Rogers, John (April 21, 2024). "Terry Anderson, AP reporter held captive for years, has died". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  37. ^ a b Sun Sentinel: "Anderson`s Fiancee Kept Quiet Watch" By MARJORIE WILLIAMS Archived August 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine December 18, 1991
  38. ^ Deseret News: "TERRY ANDERSON: DEN OF LIONS; HOSTAGE'S LIFE FULL OF PAIN AND MEMORIES" From Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years By Terry Anderson Archived August 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Published September 30, 1993, by TMS Corp.
  39. ^ Sulome Anderson (July 22, 2014). "I'm Arab-American. My Boyfriend Is Jewish. A Selfie of Us Kissing Has Become a Viral Symbol of Peace". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  40. ^ "Anderson family: Life after ordeal in Beirut had its share of torture | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  41. ^ "Kiss and tell: Arab-Jewish peck goes viral". Al Arabiya English. July 22, 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  42. ^ Kuruvilla, Carol (July 22, 2014). "Arab-Jewish couple kiss in Twitter picture to support peace in Gaza". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  43. ^ Staff Writer (June 25, 2008). "Anderson may lose Athens farm". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  44. ^ Alessi, Ryan (December 19, 2008). "Former Middle East hostage Terry Anderson to teach at UK". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  45. ^ Phillips, John (July 3, 2012). "Former blues-bar building purchased for $450,000". The Athens News. Athens, Ohio. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  46. ^ "Terry Anderson Biography | Booking Info for Speaking Engagements". www.allamericanspeakers.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  47. ^ "US journalist Terry Anderson, held hostage in Lebanon in 1980s, dies". The Guardian. April 22, 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  48. ^ "Who was Terry Anderson? US journalist held hostage in Lebanon for years dies at 76". Hindustan Times. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  49. ^ "US journalist Terry Anderson once held captive in Mideast dies at 76". The Times of India. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  50. ^ "Terry A. Anderson Papers, MS 272, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library".

External links[edit]

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