Malnourished ex-hostage reunited with wife, son

WIESBADEN, West Germany — Frank Reed, malnourished but energetic after his 3 1/2-year ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon, celebrated his freedom Tuesday with a beer, a large steak and a long-awaited reunion with his wife and son.

A special State Department team began questioning the 57-year-old educator at the U.S. Air Force hospital in Wiesbaden, hoping for clues about the 16 remaining Western hostages in Lebanon. Six American hostages are still held.

Reed, who said he spent much of his captivity blindfolded, is the second American hostage freed since April 22.

In Malden, Mass., Reed’s daughter said he told her he had been held with American hostages Terry Anderson and Thomas Sutherland but was separated from them about a year ago. Anderson and Sutherland are among the six remaining U.S. hostages in Lebanon.

“He was disturbed that they weren’t out. He thought for sure they would have been released,” said Marilyn Langston, 33. She said Reed called her early Tuesday from the military hospital in West Germany.

Mrs. Langston said her father said he lost 60 pounds during his 43 months in captivity.

At the hospital, Reed’s doctors performed X-rays and blood tests and said the former captive showed no initial signs of serious medical problems.

Reed lost “significant weight and muscle mass from a lack of exercise and a marginal diet,” the doctors said in a statement.

They added Reed is “weak and tired,” but “otherwise feels well and is talking with family and medical staff.” The hospital said Reed had indicated he did not want to meet with reporters Tuesday.

Reed was reunited at the hospital Tuesday morning with his Syrian Moslem wife, Fahima, 39, and their 9-year-old son, Tarek, who had arrived from the United States, where they had been staying in his hometown of Malden, Mass.

Military officials said Reed’s wife and son went on a quick shopping tour to buy new clothes for him at the nearby U.S. Lindsey Air Base.

Reed displayed a healthy appetite and a strong thirst for beer, according to the hospital staff.

For lunch, Reed requested a “Heineken (beer) and a large steak cooked medium rare,” and the freed hostage got what he asked for, the hospital statement said.

He spent the afternoon sleeping and was to have dinner with his family, hospital officials said.