Author’s Note

First and foremost, I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thanks to the many people who unfortunately cannot be named, but who trusted me with their hostage-related experiences. Some of you invited me to sit next to you in your grief as you shared your trauma and the gravity of the loss you endured. Your strength and courage redefined what service is for me and also gave me the strength to see this report through to the end. Many of you shared more than what is revealed in this report, but I believe those stories are meant to be shared by you alone. Even though sharing your stories is the purpose of this report, it has been my goal, from the beginning, to do so responsibly and with integrity. I hope I have realized that intention. Working with you has been a great honor and privilege and my hope and prayer is that this report brings a level of peace and comfort to you and your families.

I am greatly indebted to Diane Foley and the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation Board of Directors and Advisory Group who provided me with this opportunity and offered invaluable advice. I also owe a special thanks to Amy Coyne, Margaux Ewen, and Lucy Perkins; without their support, this project would have been unachievable. I would also like to thank Bryan Price, without whose recommendation and encouragement, I would have never been affiliated with this project.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to David Bradley whose early advice helped provide structure to the experiences shared by our participants. I would like to thank several other extraordinary individuals who generously offered their time, support, and guidance: Peter Bergen, Jen Easterly, Josh Geltzer, Mary McCord, Don Rassler, Rachel Briggs, Rob Saale, John E. Foley, Kathy Gest, and Mark Krekeler. Their sound advice and sharp intellects helped provide context and elevated this report.

I’m also incredibly grateful to David Sterman for editing this report. Without his meticulousness and attention to detail this report would not be where it is today. I’m also very appreciative to the graphics team at New America; their keen eye has enhanced this report in a way that I could not have done alone.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my husband, Seth Loertscher, and family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this process. Without their sustained support, this report would not have been possible.

In short, this report has been the work of many hands. Any success within these pages is shared with a number of people; any mistakes that remain are mine alone.

Cynthia T. Loertscher