FORMER HOSTAGES Navy Adm. James Stavridis, commander of U.S. Southern Command, meets with former hostages Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes in his office at SOUTHCOM headquarters in Miami, Fla., March 12, 2009. Later, Stavridis awarded them the Defense Freedom Medal – the civilian equivalent to the Purple Heart – for injuries suffered during captivity in the jungles of Colombia. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC held the three men for more than five years. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.06 MB) Photo By: VIRIN: 472809-G-TPX39-466.jpg Photo Gallery