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helping verb or passive voice

although i understand this idea of this sentence i am confuse about the structure of it,
"The major was grateful to be released after having been held captive for 2 years."
please explain to me why "having been held" is used here.

Re: helping verb or passive voice

Having done something, the subject did something else.

This is an efficient way of writing. It allows you to say say something about the subject before saying your main point. Some know it as a past gerund.

You get present gerunds too.

Sitting in gaol, he read his book.
Having sat in goal, he...