In Colombia, there's been a civil war going on for more than 50 years between the government and a group that wishes to bring about a Marxist revolution. As a result there have been thousands of people kidnapped and held hostage in the Colombian jungle. Colonel Jose Espejo had retirement on the horizon, but wanted to rescue as many hostages as he could before he left. He called his "idea man," advertising executive Juan Carlos Ortiz, the first Colombian to win a gold Lion (the Oscar of commercials). Over time they hatched a plan to get a covert message to those hostages. Specifically the message was "19 people rescued, you're next. Don't lose hope." Eventually the two men found a terrifically clever way to get this message delivered and ultimately help more hostages get released. Spoiler: It involves a snappy beat and Morse code. You can read the full story at The Verge, and even get a chance to experience the message yourself. It's a fascinating tale and I'm glad it was declassified so it could be shared.
Check It Out: That Time the Colombian Army Sent Secret Messages to Hostages in a Tune
