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'He did it for us': US soldier recalls Jesse Jackson's efforts to free him and two other POWs

February 18, 2026

Reverend Jesse Jackson, who died at age 84, orchestrated the 1999 release of three U.S. soldiers captured by Yugoslav forces during the Kosovo War, despite opposition from the Clinton White House. Jackson partnered with Illinois Representative Rod Blagojevich to travel to Belgrade and negotiate directly with Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic while NATO bombing campaigns continued. During tense negotiations, Jackson refused to accept a partial release and insisted on freeing all three soldiers or none at all.

Who is affected

  • Reverend Jesse Jackson (deceased diplomat who led the rescue effort)
  • U.S. Army Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, Sergeant Christopher Stone, and Specialist Steven Gonzales (the three captured soldiers)
  • The soldiers' families in the United States
  • Illinois Representative Rod Blagojevich (Jackson's partner in the mission)
  • The Clinton administration and State Department (opposed the mission)
  • Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic and Yugoslav forces
  • Jackson's multi-faith delegation that traveled to Belgrade

What action is being taken

  • No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The article recounts historical events from 1999 and reports on Jesse Jackson's death on Tuesday, but does not describe any currently ongoing actions.

Why it matters

  • This mission demonstrated Jackson's legacy of "private diplomacy" in securing the release of Americans held abroad, even when working against the wishes of his own government. The successful negotiation prevented the soldiers from enduring prolonged captivity during an active war zone while NATO bombing continued, reuniting them with their families. Jackson's insistence on an all-or-nothing approach and his willingness to take personal risks in a dangerous wartime environment exemplified his commitment to humanitarian intervention. For the soldiers like Ramirez, Jackson's actions had lifelong personal significance, maintaining relationships decades after the rescue.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC