Long March to Freedom: The True Story of a Colombian Kidnapping Kindle Edition

This book is enough to make you fear traveling anywhere south of Texas. The 2000 movie "Proof of Life" (starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe) was based on this effort, which is comprised of the secret diaries Tom Hargrove kept while being held captive in Columbia.He was taken during a traffic stop - by mistake, since the agency he worked for, ironically to help the local population, had the initials "CIA" in its acronym (CIAT, but apparently that "T" didn't resonate). After searching for reasons to hold him, the guerrillas discovered, like so many others his age, he had served in Vietnam, and that plus the "CIA" was apparently enough.He was held by undisciplined teenagers with automatic rifles, nearly starved to death, given no exercise, without physical warmth, at times chained to his bed - imprisoned with no political beliefs to keep him going. A miracle he survived at all.I've read many stories of those imprisoned, but this one was just wrenching.Being at the mercy of teenagers with no idea of the importance of keeping you fed - and knowing that the faceless company you work for has a "policy of not negotiating with terrorists" (a great sound bite, but you're starving to death, and one of the coke-filled teenagers is target practicing near you) - absolutely harrowing. And paying ransoms is illegal in Columbia. And the people's army is sure you're CIA.The author was held with no information about his status other than that he was alive for the moment and might be moved, or traded, to somewhere worse tomorrow.Tom Hargrave became a terrorism and kidnapping consultant in Texas after his experience until his death from heart failure in 2011. This excruciating read is an amazing legacy of his experience.

Eye-opening account of nearly year-long captivity and the ensuing emotions...the initial fear and anger at being taken, frustration at the captors' ignorance and stupidity, concern for loved ones back home, acceptance of the situation and figuring out how to stay alive for an indeterminate amount of time in the face of starvation and solitude, sudden realization that death may be imminent, desperation, depression, hopelessness, and finally, the release...unceremoniously dumped on a road with instructions to follow the road and keep going.A first-hand account written from daily notes recorded as it happened. Fact. Not fiction. The author has spent his life helping people in developing countries to permanently increase their food production. Who could imagine this would be the thanks he received?

I thought this was a good read. Other reviews have said it is boring with the diary type format. I found it very interesting as he details his day to day life in captivity. Seeing the movie really rounds out the story so check out both. As they say in the Navy "don't get off the boat" this book makes me just want to stay within the borders of the USA.

Interesting read

I first saw a program with Tom Hargrove talking about this kidnapping he endured and wanted to know more , so looked on Amazon, found the book, got it and read it. I feel like it filled in some of the blanks that the 1 hour program left out.

His overall story of captivity is good but the style of this books makes it hard to read and boring. It's written diary style and most entries are boring and repetitive. I understand many of his days in captivity were uneventful but to read every uneventful day does not make for a book that holds your attention.

The late author is a relative so my opinion is biased. The paperback edition was purchased for a neighbor who thought it was well-written and kept his attention.

I haven't seen the film but this is exactly what I would expect from the diary of a kidnapped person. Most of the time, there isn't going to be much going on and yet so much it's happening inside your mind.Strangely enough, I get a sense of calmness in reading the passage of the book. Actually, enjoyed the book! But I must forewarn that this book is not everyone ...