Philippine Army Scout Rangers capture Abu Sayaf camp                                                             March, 2002

Col. Alexander Aleo, Philippine military spokesman, confirmed reports that troops overrun a camp used by the kidnappers near the coastal town of Lantawan and believed that the two American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were in the area.

Troops found woman's personal belongings including a brush with blond hair strands believed to be owned by Gracia. These were later turned over to American authorities for further examination in the states.

Reports of Ransom Payments                                                        April, 2002

Filipino  troops were reportedly disturbed over rumors of backdoor negotiations / deals by families of the kidnapped victims. There were reports of ransom payments made to the Abu Sayyaf, which though coming from a reliable source, the veracity of the report could not be confirmed.  

A Filipino Army officer said that payment of any ransom to the terrorist group would only be used to buy more arms and encourage more kidnappings. The kidnapping of the American Missionaries might not have happened if only foreign governments not paid huge amount of ransom money to the terrorist group. He was obviously referring to several European countries who paid and or encouraged  ransom to free their citizens in a previous kidnapping .   

NTM Denies Any Involvement in Ransom Payment                  April 25, 2002

As renewed fighting  between US trained Filipino troops and the Abu Sayaf continues in the dense jungle of Basilan, New Tribes Mission, , to which Martin and Gracia Burnham belongs, denied that it has anything to do with the secret ransom negotiations made by the couple's family. They said that NTM has no knowledge of the secret deal and maintained that it stands firm on their no ransom policy.

More U.S. troops arrive in Zamboanga City                                 May, 2002

American soldiers and equipments continue to pour over this mostly Christian populated city of Zamboanga as local residents eagerly awaits the actual involvement of US troops in combat. Many residents here favor the American involvement in neutralizing the Abu Sayaf , even as a small segment of the Manila based  left leaning activists oppose American involvement.

Hostage Crisis Ends : Martin Killed; Gracia survives; Deborah also killed                                                                                              June 7, 2002

Government troops engaged the Abu Sayaf group in a fierce gun battle as Black Hawks circled the area, residents in nearby towns confirmed. Martin Burnham was killed during the battle as Philippine Army Scout Rangers pulled Gracia Burnham to safety. She was reportedly wounded in the leg and was airlifted, together with a number of wounded troopers,  in a Military chopper  and taken to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga. American soldiers in full battle gear could be seen  guarding the hospital alongside Philippine soldiers.

Don't die, don't die 

As they waited for the Black Hawk chopper to arrive, a medic applied first aid treatment to Gracia's leg as the other soldiers smoked , obviously to calm their nerves, as they were visibly upset over the outcome of the rescue. They realized they have shot all three hostages but at least one was alive. 

The chopper arrived and Gracia was carried inside together with several wounded troopers.  

Gracia drifted in and out of consciousness as one Filipino soldier kept gently tapping her cheek to revive her saying " don't die, don't die".   And Gracia didn't die,

HEROES

For that very momentous occasion, two of the Air Force helicopter pilots who participated in the rescue of Gracia Burnham were awarded in yesterday’s ceremony with Gold Cross Medals. The pilots were Lt. Gaudencio Lauron and Lt. Jun Samilin.

"Both braved hostile fire, treacherous terrain and hazardous weather to bring Gracia Burnham to safety," President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo said.