Former Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel, freed from more than three years of Russian captivity on Tuesday, has completed the first phase of his reintegration to freedom in the United States.
In a message he sent to his attorney, Sasha Phillips, late Friday, Fogel said he had completed the medical phase of his time at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
“Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I am free at last!” it began.
“All of your support and love was my nourishment the last 3 years and 6 months and I will be forever grateful.”
The message was also sent to Fogel’s wife, Jane, and intended to be shared with their supporters. It continued:
“I am humbled and overwhelmed by what has been done to secure my release by so many. I am delighted to report I have positively completed the medical phase of the transition protocol done by the State Department.
“Tomorrow, we will began another phase of this program which needs to be completed before moving into life as we know it.”
Fogel concluded: “I cannot wait to rejoin our community, but this will take a bit of time, and I ask for some patience in replying to you all. I look forward to reaching out to all of you in due time. With gratitude, respect, and humility.”
The program in Texas, originally created by the Department of Defense for returning soldiers, has been adapted for wrongful detainees.
The returned prisoner typically remains there for “Post-Isolation Support Activities” for about two weeks as they learn coping skills and become accustomed to being around people again.
Fogel, 63, was held in Russia for 3½ years, after being arrested at the airport in Moscow in August 2021 for taking medically prescribed marijuana into the country.
He was set to being his 10th and final year teaching at the Anglo-American School when he was detained. Following a sham trial in 2022, Fogel was convicted and sentenced to 14 years at a penal colony.
Fogel’s family lobbied the U.S. government for years to label him as wrongfully detained, a designation that would open additional resources up to him and his family. However, that didn’t happen until the last six months.
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Special Envoy Steve Witkoff negotiated Fogel’s release, and on Tuesday, met him at the airport.
A video circulating on Russian media showed Fogel’s final trip as he made his way to Vnukovo International Airport.
The 1 minute, 45 second video shows Fogel, wearing an orange Columbia puffy coat, being led into a van by a masked man wearing all black.
As they travel, Fogel puts on a Steelers tossle cap, and a man asks, “How are you Marc?”
“Very tired,” Fogel answered.
“Do you know where you’re going to?” the man continued.
“I hope to the airport,” Fogel said, adding later, “I just want to be reunited with my family.”
Fogel then asked what airport they were headed to.
“Are there any other Americans going home?” Fogel continued.
There was no answer.
The video then continues at the airport with Fogel being removed from the van and sitting on an orange couch inside.
His tossle cap and the Tolstoy novel “Anna Karenina” rest on the couch next to him, as he sits with his hands clasped and his head down.
The next image shows Fogel approaching Witkoff, his eyes lighting up with joy, shaking Witkoff’s hand.
“Let’s get you on the plane,” Witkoff said.
Fogel, with a big smile, agrees.
A person stops him, “Marc? Passport?” and hands it to him.
Fogel kisses it, and the video cuts to him running up the private jet’s stairs, letting out a whoop as he does.
The video ends with an image of Fogel through the airplane window.