Ralph Leidholdt reflects on hostage expierence, which included a Prairie Home Companion tape collection and Muhammad Ali as a negotiator
January 26, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Ralph Leidholdt, a U.S. civilian taken hostage during Iraq invasion of Kuwait. Leidholdt recalls the experience of his capture by Iraqi forces in Kuwait and detainment in Iraq, until negotiations secured his release.
In 1990, Muhammad Ali traveled to Iraq to press for peace and negotiate with Saddam Hussein for the release of U.S. civilians taken hostage after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Ali risked his reputation, health and safety for the freedom of prisoners held by Hussein as 'human shields' to deter U.S. military strikes. Six weeks after Ali brought 15 hostages back home to their relieved families, Operation Desert Storm bombarded Iraq.