Hostages’ Lives Forever Changed by the Ordeal : Aftermath: Some have bounced back to normal living, others remain troubled or angry.

Some have bounced back to resume normal lives, with no apparent lingering aftereffects from their ordeal as hostages. Others remain troubled or angry over their experiences in captivity. And some are still under medical or psychological care.

In the years since their release, some have hit the lecture circuit, written books, or launched personal campaigns on behalf of their imprisoned “brothers.” Others have chosen to avoid publicity and return to the solitude of work, family and friends.

Whatever their individual paths, their common journey officially ended Wednesday with the release of Terry A. Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press--the last American hostage held in Lebanon. His freedom capped the rapid-fire releases in recent weeks of hostages Jesse Turner, Thomas M. Sutherland, Joseph J. Cicippio and Alann Steen.

But while the public part of their saga may now be over, it is clear that they will be inextricably bound by the singular, terrifying experience they shared. The former hostages have responded to freedom in different ways but all say that their lives will be forever changed.

Robert Polhill, the former Beirut University College business studies teacher released in 1990 after 39 months, emerged from captivity to face a serious medical challenge: throat cancer. Less than two months after his release, Polhill, a diabetic and longtime smoker, underwent surgery to remove his voice box and, until recently, could barely speak.

In a way, he said in a recent interview, confronting cancer was a blessing in disguise, because it provided a major distraction from any readjustment difficulties he might otherwise have experienced.

“We had something else major to deal with right away,” said Polhill, who now lives in Arlington, Va., with his Palestinian wife, Ferial.

Last June, Polhill got his voice back. He underwent a second surgery to implant a new device that enables him to speak naturally. “I gave an address recently to 600 persons in Winnipeg,” he said with obvious pride.

Polhill said he has never experienced anger or felt the need to retaliate against his captors. Instead, he has tried to return to a normal life as quickly as possible. “My first emotion was relief that it was over,” he said. “I was glad to have it all behind me. I began looking forward as quickly as I could. My wife and I sat down and said: ‘That’s behind us now. Let’s get on with our lives.’ ”

It has not been as easy for some of the others.

Edward A. Tracy, for example, the rogue adventurer and independent book publisher, released last August after five years’ imprisonment, remains hospitalized in the Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he continues to receive care. Neither his family nor his physicians will discuss his condition.

Frank H. Reed, former director of the private Lebanese International School, who was released in 1990 after almost four years of captivity, is back in Malden, Mass., his home, and “is much better now,” after grappling with physical and emotional problems, said his 92-year-old mother, Leota Reed Sprague.

Reed, who has been extremely critical of the U.S. government’s hostage-related actions since his return, was suffering from chronic arsenic poisoning and “was months in the hospital,” his mother said. Now, she said, “he’s very busy writing a book and lecturing” and is “much better mentally, back more like himself--more human.

“He has a wonderful mind and his spirits are good,” Sprague continued. “When he first came home, he was real quiet and didn’t speak much. He just wanted to read. Now he seems to speak more. There’s even a little bit of laughter. But he’s eating too much. I say to Frank, ‘Moderation, dear.’ But I don’t know if he’s listening.”

David P. Jacobsen, a former hospital administrator from Huntington Beach, Calif., who was held for 17 months in Beirut before his November, 1986, release, recently has been promoting his new book, “Hostage: My Nightmare in Beirut.” He has carried on an unrelenting public campaign on behalf of his fellow captives.

“I have great anger towards the people who kidnaped me and I have dedicated my life to their apprehension and punishment,” he said in a recent interview.

Two churchmen, Father Lawrence M. Jenco and the Rev. Benjamin Weir, have quietly returned to their religious duties.

Jenco, a Roman Catholic priest who was director of Catholic Relief Services in Beirut, was kidnaped in January, 1985, and released after 19 months. He works as a campus minister at the University of Southern California.

Weir, a Presbyterian minister who was released in 1985 after 16 months’ imprisonment, teaches at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo. Weir said his most painful moment came with the death of his daughter only two months after his release. Teacher Ann Weir, 24, a passenger on an express bus, was killed when the bus was hit by a train near Alexandria, Egypt.

Weir spent much of the first two years after his release traveling and speaking. He wrote a book with his wife about their experiences during his captivity. Now he is enjoying his life as a professor of theology.

“I feel I’ve been able to use my experience in ways that are meaningful to other people, particularly in my teaching,” he said. His hostage experience “doesn’t dog my footsteps, or cause me to feel that I have lost a great deal,” he said. “I find more than enough to do, and I must say I feel greatly blessed.”

Weir said he visited with returned hostage Sutherland last week when the latter spent Thanksgiving in San Francisco with his daughter. “It was a grand reunion,” Weir said.

Jeremy (Jerry) Levin, former Beirut bureau chief for Cable News Network, was the first American to be taken hostage. He was kidnaped March, 1984, and escaped--or was allowed to escape--in February, 1985.

Levin, who until recently worked as a free-lance journalist in the Middle East, moved to California in February to become director of news and information services for World Vision International, a Christian relief and development agency based in Monrovia, Calif. His current work is the direct result of a “spiritual awakening” that he experienced during his ordeal, he said.

“In captivity, I had more time to think philosophically about some of the more important questions of my life and the universe,” he said. “The experience has made me try to be more closely connected to people in need, especially the underprivileged and poor in the world.”

Follow-Ups on Former Hostages

Where former American hostages held in Lebanon are now:

Jeremy Levin, 58, then Beirut bureau chief for Cable News Network, was kidnaped March 7, 1984, and escaped Feb. 13, 1985. Islamic Jihad, however, said it freed him. Levin subsequently left CNN and turned to writing and lecturing. Recently worked as a free-lance journalist in Mideast; now in Monrovia as director of news and information services for World Vision International.

The Rev. Benjamin Weir, 67, Presbyterian minister, kidnaped May 8, 1984, and freed Sept. 14, 1985. Professor of mission and evangelism at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, Calif.

The Rev. Lawrence Jenco, 57, Beirut chief of Catholic Relief Services, abducted Jan. 8, 1985, and released July 26, 1986. Campus minister at USC.

David Jacobsen, 60, kidnaped May 28, 1985, and freed Nov. 2, 1986. Worked for 18 months as a hospital administrator in Durango, Colo. Now lives in Huntington Beach. Lectures and writes. His book, “Hostage: My Nightmare in Beirut,” was published in August.

Charles Glass, 40, on leave from ABC News to research a book when seized June 17, 1987, in West Beirut suburb while riding in car with Ali Osseiran, son of Lebanese defense minister, who was also seized. Osseiran and driver freed a week later; Glass escaped Aug. 18, 1987. Returned to ABC News; was in Damascus on Wednesday to report the expected release of Terry A. Anderson for “Good Morning America.”

Robert Polhill, 57, educator, kidnaped Jan. 24, 1987, and freed April 22, 1990. Shortly after his release, it was discovered that he had throat cancer. His voice box was removed, and a voice prosthesis was later implanted. Now lives in Arlington, Va., and travels the country speaking on the destructiveness of cancer and diabetes, from which he also suffers.

Frank H. Reed, 59, educator, abducted Sept. 9, 1986, freed April 30, 1990. Lives in Malden, Mass., outside Boston. Lectures at colleges and universities and is writing a book.

Edward A. Tracy, 61, kidnaped Oct. 21, 1986, freed Aug. 11, 1991. Undergoing psychiatric treatment at the Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Jesse Turner, 44, kidnaped Jan. 24, 1987, and released Oct. 22, 1991. Returned home to Boise, Ida., where he has been offered a part-time job teaching math at Boise State University beginning next month.

Thomas M. Sutherland, 60, abducted June 9, 1985, and released Nov. 18, 1991. Returned home to Ft. Collins, Colo., where he had been an animal sciences professor at Colorado State University before going to Lebanon as acting agriculture dean at the American University of Beirut. He plans to meet with the Beirut university’s dean soon to discuss a possible return.

Joseph J. Cicippio, 61, kidnaped Sept. 12, 1986, freed Monday. Not yet returned to the United States.

Alann Steen, 52, kidnaped Jan. 24, 1987, freed Tuesday. Not yet returned to the United States.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Times Wire Services