U.S. Hostage in Iraq 'Doing Fine', Says Wife (Tissue Alert!)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The wife of an American trucker taken hostage in Iraq (news - web sites) last week said on Thursday she had been told her husband was "doing fine" and appealed to his captors to free him immediately.

Kellie Hamill said efforts were moving ahead to secure the release of her husband, Thomas Hamill, who was taken hostage last Friday in Iraq after his convoy was ambushed.

"We have heard that he is doing fine and that they are still working on everything," Mrs. Hamill told ABC's "Good Morning America," without disclosing who had given this information to her family.

Mrs. Hamill appealed to the hostage-takers to free her husband, a struggling dairy farmer from the small town of Macon, Mississippi, who went to Iraq to try to boost the family's meager income.

"I would like them to please release him unharmed. We love and miss him very much," she said.

The plea came as an Italian hostage was executed by his captors while three Japanese hostages were released, according to Arab television station Al Jazeera.

Hamill, who is among more than 40 foreigners taken hostage in Iraq, was seen in news broadcasts being driven away by masked gunmen after the convoy attack near Baghdad.

He was working for Texas-based company Kellogg Brown and Root, the U.S. military's biggest logistics contractor in Iraq and a subsidiary of Halliburton, the oil services giant run by Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) from 1995-2000.

Six other KBR workers on the same convoy as Hamill are also missing. The company has said it cannot yet confirm whether the bodies of four people found were those of some of the missing employees. KBR has lost 30 employees and contractors in Iraq.

Mrs. Hamill, who had open heart surgery this year, said her husband went to Iraq in a bid to improve the life of their family.

"He is just a very good guy. It's hard to describe. He just takes care of his responsibilities as a family man and makes sure his family is taken care of."

Mrs. Hamill said it was hard to look at the tape of her husband being taken away. "We miss him and we are real scared of what is going on. But we are real strong and we are going through it."

The couple spoke two days before Hamill was taken captive, focusing mainly on their two children, aged 11 and 13, and how Mrs. Hamill was doing following her major surgery.

In a direct message to him, she said: "I just want to let him know that the kids and I love and we miss him very much. We hope he is safe and doing well and will be home with us real soon

Just had to put the Cheney disclaimer in there, didn't they?

2 posted on 04/15/2004 6:44:13 AM PDT by eyespysomething (To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target)

I'm just waiting for someone to interview his wife and ask if she believes Cheney is responsible for her husband's kidnapping and whether Cheney should apologize to her.

I'm sorry, I didn't include my prayers for this man, and his family. He was trying to do some good, and help his family. Of course, to listen to Democrats, he's an evil mercinary who deserves what he gets for war profiteering. Evil people, those democrats are.

The employees of KBR get paid $1000/week, with the first $150,000 tax free. I am now discouraging my husband from trying to get a job over there.

5 posted on 04/15/2004 6:47:35 AM PDT by eyespysomething (To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first, and call whatever you hit the target)

LOl - Well you know Reuters they hate Bush, Cheney and as far as I can tell the U.S. Just like the DUers!

6 posted on 04/15/2004 6:49:04 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)

I would discourage him for now because of the kidnappings but hopefully in the near future things will calm down. I respect anyone who can just go to these kind of countries and work - it takes guts!

7 posted on 04/15/2004 6:51:03 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)

You know for some reason I don't think this lady is one of those creepy people. She is more concerned with her husbands' safety. The people that blame Bush and Cheney for everything usually are happy to open their big mouths and tell the press just what they think right off the bat. They love spewing their hatred. This lady just doesn't seem like that type.

8 posted on 04/15/2004 6:52:59 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)

This lady just doesn't seem like that type.

I think most Americans are the same as her. I have a great deal of faith in the American people.

And yes, I am GREATLY discouraging my hubby. Its bad enough my 8 y.o. is getting ready to join the Marines (lol, he has 10 years to wait, so...)

9 posted on 04/15/2004 6:57:34 AM PDT by eyespysomething (This website may not be idiot proof, but at least it's dimwit resistant.)

Its bad enough my 8 y.o. is getting ready to join the Marines (lol, he has 10 years to wait, so...)

In 10 years alot could change - he may want to be a doctor by then. :-)

10 posted on 04/15/2004 7:05:39 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)

Hide your hubby's passport.

8 year old wants to joing the service?

What a good kid!

Of course, none of us wants to see a child go to war, but you should be commended for raising him so well!

11 posted on 04/15/2004 7:22:49 AM PDT by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno World!")

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