JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Three U.S. soldiers who were on routine patrol in Macedonia were captured by Serb forces. This was at the height of NATO's bombing campaign, and their capture created a big problem for the United States and NATO. The Yugoslav government was hopeful that the capture of these POWs would weaken the resolve of the United States and</s>NATO. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MAY 2, 1999) MARINA KOLBE, CNN ANCHOR: From Belgrade, the three POWs that were captured and held in Yugoslavia have now been released and are in the custody of Reverend Jessie Jackson.</s>REV, JESSE JACKSON: Father and our God, we thank you....</s>MCINTYRE: Jesse Jackson went to visit the prisoners and helped to secure their release. When they were released, they told stories of being mistreated by the Serb forces while in captivity, but none of them had any very serious injuries that lasted for very long. They were awarded purple hearts and other awards for their valor during capture. It was never clear whether the soldiers did anything that would have contributed to their own capture. That is whether they were in a position that made them vulnerable to capture, or didn't take proper precautions, the Army denied that. But the next day after the capture, they tightened up the procedures for these patrols.
CNN 20: U.S. Soldiers Released in Serbia, May 2, 1999