James L. Dozier
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James L. Dozier is a US Army Brigadier General, who was kidnapped by the leftist Italian "Red Brigade" terrorist group in December of 1981. He was freed by Italian anti-terrorist forces after 42 days of captivity. General Dozier was the highest ranking U.S. NATO officer in Italy at the time.
Brigadier General James L. Dozier was kidnapped from his apartment in Verona, Italy at approximately 6:00PM on Dec 17 1981, by four men posing as plumbers. He was the Senior Officer assigned to the U.S. Army team in the Allied Land Forces Europe (LANDSOUTH) Headquarters in Verona. The Red Brigade held Brigadier General Dozier for 42 days until Jan. 28 1982, when a team of NOCS (an Italian anti-terrorist team) successully carried out his rescue from an apartment in Padua. Upon his return to the U.S. Army in Vicenza, he requested a hamburger, a Coke, and a haircut. While in Vicenza, he was congratulated via telephone by President Reagan on regaining his freedom.
Dozier was later promoted to Major General, eventually retired from active military service, and is currently active in politics as co-chairman of the Bush-Cheney Veteran's Affairs steering committee.