Most likely "he" was at Desert One, a refueling depot where a taxiing CH-53 hit a C-130.
I was in the Air Force during this crisis, and we launched all of our aircraft, F-111As, to our deployment base in Insurlik Turkey two days before the Desert One debacle.
Our aircraft were deployed in case the Iranians decided to start a shooting war over the "invasion" of their airspace.
Thare was another rescue attempt prior to Eagle Claw, called Credible Sport
Credible Sport was after Desert One. the use of JATO rockets sure sounded risky. Saw a few videos on it, broke that ship up!