Missionaries Freed; 1 From S.D.
Twelve missionary workers detained in El Salvador, including one from San Diego, were released unharmed Friday, U.S. officials said.
Bradley Fields, a social worker from San Diego; three other Americans; seven West Germans; a Canadian and a Spaniard were arrested Thursday in San Salvador. But all were released after less than a day, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Coronado) said after he met Friday with Salvadoran Ambassador Miguel A. Salaverria.
During a meeting on the plight of the war-torn country, Hunter asked Salaverria to inquire about the missionary workers. From Hunter’s office, Salaverria called Col. Rene Emilio Ponce, the armed forces chief of staff, and learned that the missionary workers had been released.
The other Americans were identified as Paula Brentlinger, a Seattle physician; Thomas Gabriel, a Seattle nurse, and Paul Fitch, a volunteer whose hometown was not known.
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