Hostages' Families Fear Military Rescue

Lauren Stansell holds a plaque made by the Northrop Grumman Corporation with the names of three American hostages, Keith Stansell, her dad, Tom Howes and Marc Gonsalves, at her grandparents home Saturday, March 3, 2007, in Bradenton, Fla. Lauren's dad is one of three Northrop Grumman Corp. contractors, who were on what U.S. officials describe as a drug surveillance mission over Caqueta, a rebel stronghold, when their plane crashed in the jungle Feb. 13, 2003, and they were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and heard from only once since then. (AP Photo/Craig Litten) (Craig Litten - AP)

Family members of the hostages say their pleas for help from their elected representatives in Congress have gone unheeded.

"There was nothing they could help us with, is the impression they gave us," said Marc Gonsalves' father, George Gonsalves, 59, of Hebron, Conn.

George Gonsalves said he repeatedly asked for help from Connecticut's lawmakers in Washington, "and of course, they never did anything with it. Can't see anything, up to even today, where they've done anything."

Throughout the saga, Northrop Grumman has found itself in the uneasy position of trying to push the administration to do more for the hostages without risking its own government contracts. The Los Angeles-based defense and technology company relies heavily on contracts to maintain annual revenues of over $30 billion.

Gonsalves, Howes and Stansell worked for Northrop Grumman's electronic systems unit and were carrying out a Defense Department contract for airborne reconnaissance and surveillance. All three lived in Florida and have children at home.

Each was familiar with aircraft, family members said. Gonsalves served eight years in the Air Force. Stansell worked as an electrician and mechanic on Chinook helicopters after a four-year stint with the Marine Corps. Howes was a pilot instructor.

Shortly after the men were captured, the Justice Department warned Northrop Grumman against sending backpacks of sneakers, medication and other items to the hostages, according to several people familiar with the conversations. The government cautioned that if the items ended up in the hands of the rebels, it would violate the USA Patriot Act's ban on providing material support to terrorists, the people said.

The Justice Department declined comment.

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No prisoner exchange

Although the FARC has said it would consider including the three contractors in a larger prisoner exchange, the Colombian and U.S. governments have ruled out a swap.

Gonsalves, Howes and Stansell are among an estimated 62 political prisoners being held by the rebels. There have been no demands for ransom. The Colombian government is holding about 500 of the rebels. The United States has two rebels in custody.