, and Colombian army Sgt. Luis Cruz , according to the U.S. State Department . The three freed Americans are being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio , Texas . Learn about the former hostages '' `` For five-and-a-half long years , we all hoped and prayed this day would come , '' their statement said . `` Now that it has , we 're just overwhelmed with emotion . The love and the joy we 're all experiencing is beyond description . `` We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the government and the armed forces of Colombia . The operation they conducted to rescue us was one for the history books -- something we will never forget for the rest of our lives . '' Colombian authorities unveiled details and a videotape Friday describing the mission , which involved tricking the leftist rebels into giving up their hostages . Watch video of the rescue '' Government agents had infiltrated the FARC leadership over several months . This week they talked the rebels into moving the hostages , saying a humanitarian group wanted to check on them . A helicopter carrying fake rebels picked up
SAN ANTONIO , Texas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The three Americans rescued after more than five years in captivity in Colombia say they are doing well but are `` overwhelmed with emotion , '' according to a statement released on their behalf . `` Words alone can never possibly express the thrill and excitement we feel to be back home in the United States of America with our families at our side , '' the Friday statement from Marc Gonsalves , Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell said . The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -LRB- FARC -RRB- had held the three U.S. government contractors since February 2003 , after their plane crashed in a remote region of the South American country . They were among 15 hostages rescued Wednesday in a Colombian military operation . Watch Colombians celebrate success '' Also among the rescued hostages was French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt , who returned to France on Friday . She is undergoing medical tests at a Paris military hospital , The Associated Press reported . Watch Betancourt 's joyous return to France '' Shortly after the plane crashed , FARC members killed contractor Tom Janis , according to employer Northrop Grumman