Thomas Rex Hargrove (3 March 1944[1] – 22 January 2011) was an American agricultural scientist and journalist, who was kidnapped in Colombia by FARC narco-guerillas in 1994.
[2] The 2000 film Proof of Life starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe was heavily based on Hargrove and his ordeal.
[3] During the Vietnam War, he served as an officer in the United States Army and worked for the Military Assistance Command introducing the high-yield IR8 rice cultivar in Chương Thiện.
Hargrove was considered a high-value prisoner because the semi-literate guerrillas thought his CIAT identification badge was proof that he was actually working for the CIA.
Hargrove's captors gave him 10,000 Colombian Pesos ($USD12) and marched him two days before releasing him in or near Los Nevados National Natural Park at 10:47am, August 22, 1995.
He was also awarded the academic title of Senior Fellow for Terrorism Analysis, and when on assignment held the protocol rank of 07: Brigadier General (one star).