‘I’m Beautiful, I’m OK,’ Freed Hostage Says

Freed hostage Frank H. Reed pronounced himself in good health Saturday, saying: “I’m beautiful, I’m OK.”

Reed said his kidnapers “treated me fine” the last six months of his captivity and joked that “room service was pretty good.”

His doctors said they were pleased with how he looked, even though his weight had dropped from 185 pounds to about 140 now.

“Our early evaluations are good,” said Brig. Gen. Robert W. Poel, commander of the Malcolm Grow Air Force Medical Center.

Reed said he was looking forward to going home to Malden, Mass., on Tuesday or Wednesday for the first time in eight years to see his 91-year-old mother.

But Poel said he would be surprised if Reed left by Wednesday and that his departure would not be until the end of the week at the earliest.

Reed, 57, sounded in high spirits Saturday despite his weight loss and being blindfolded and bound much of his more than 3 1/2 years in captivity. He was released Monday in Beirut by Lebanese kidnapers.

“Every muscle in my body is completely out of shape,” Reed said. “I’ve eaten quality food but haven’t had much of it.” “We used to joke--John (McCarthy), Brian (Keenan) and I--that room service was pretty good when we got extra coffee, popcorn or something.” Reed was held hostage with McCarthy and Keenan at varying times.

Poel said Reed was decompressing and it was probably too early to say if he had any specific problems. He said it also was too early to make a specific diagnosis of Reed’s mental state, but that Reed’s “spirits are great. He speaks with vigor and is happy to be where he is. He is incisive. Ask a question and he speaks out. His memory is great.”