Healthy Hostages Believe Detainees Treated Them in Kind, Doctor Says

OAKDALE, La. —  The hostages released by Cuban detainees here Sunday told doctors that they believe they were treated well by their captors because of the way they had behaved toward the Cubans before the Nov. 21 uprising.

Dr. Herbert Nesom, who treated some of the hostages at Humana Hospital after their release, said that the detainees “had an internal police that provided for (the hostages’) protection 24 hours. They felt the reason they were treated so well was because they had treated them (the detainees) well.

“There was no hysteria. They were very, very calm. They were very well treated. They were treated with respect at all times.

“Some groups were delegated to security police; some patrolled the outer perimeter. There were some who prayed with them (the hostages) and some who tended to their medical needs.”

Planned Murders if Attacked

But, although the detainees were attentive, they made it clear, the hostages told Nesom, that the hostages would be killed if need be.

“The hostages felt that these men were willing to die to stay in America,” he said. “They (the detainees) were very matter-of-fact. If they were attacked, they were going to murder the hostages. They knew what the plan was.”

Still, the hostages said the only times that they felt really threatened was when Army helicopters flew over the compound at night. That upset the detainees, Nesom said he was told.

The Cubans feared that a SWAT team would drop into the center of the compound and they did not think they could defend against such an attack, Nesom said. The inmates then would chain the prisoners and gather them together in preparation for an assault, he said.

After their release, the first request of most of the hostages was a bath, said Dr. George B. Mowad, the hospital’s chief of staff, who is also the mayor of this tiny southwestern Louisiana town.

One Minor Strain

Dr. Roy Harding, a staff physician at the hospital, said one hostage was treated for a minor strain “either to the knee or ankle,” but most “suffered mostly from lack of water and soap.”

When word reached the hostages’ families at Sacred Heart Church--where they had gathered daily since the ordeal began--that their loved ones were about to be released, brothers, sisters, wives, nephews, nieces and friends stood glued to the TV monitor as the hostages filed out of the compound.

Cheers and screams erupted as relatives recognized their family members moving through a glass door to safety.

Finally, the long-awaited announcement came: “Ladies and gentlemen, they’re all out.”

Sobbing and hugging, family members hoisted yellow balloons to the ceiling and began streaming out of the church hall and toward the hospital.

“I can finally rest now,” said a relieved Inez Carter, sister of hostage Odell Kimble.

Verdun Woods, father of hostage Patrick Woods, stood outside the church waiting to catch a glimpse of the bus carrying the hostages as it rolled past on its way to the hospital.

‘Talking With the Lord’

“That’s been my secret,” he said, pointing to the church. “I spent 90% of my time on my knees in there talking with the Lord.”

Within minutes of the hostages’ release, jubilant relatives began gathering in the front of Humana Hospital to await arrival of the bus. As they waited, the sense of joy and relief mounted.

A huge cheer went up as the bus approached Humana Hospital. The men inside the vehicle pressed their hands to the windows, some of them waving, others giving the thumbs-up sign.

Family members rushed for the emergency entrance, only to be held back by police officers who had blocked off the area. Then, one by one, the 26 hostages--obviously bone-weary--filed slowly off the bus. Two clutched American flags under their arms. Three burly, unshaven men embraced at the hospital entrance before going inside for medical and psychological checks and an FBI debriefing.