John McCarthy

John looks like an ordinary guy. He is, but with an extraordinary story. John was an English journalist who was captured 22 years ago in Berut Lebanon and held hostage for over 5 years. He was held hostage longer than any other Englishman. John was held with 3 Americans, one being Terry Anderson who was the longest held American captive at 6 years. Most Americans remember Terry Anderson who was an Associated Press reporter, and was released in the early 90's. Mr. McCarthy was a guest speaker at a business brunch that we attended in Monte Carlo. He told his story of constant beatings, and isolation in a basement cell so small that he could touch both walls while standing in the middle. He was finally put in with other hostages and told of how they survived mentally with only the support of each other. It was inspiring to everyone, and hard to understand, how he kept his humor and held no grudges against anyone today. It was an honor for me to chat with John briefly. He told me that his wish list if he ever survived was to see the world and meet everyone possible.