My main man (who is still working in Pakistan today) was at the Embassy the first time the dirtballs took over in Feb 79. One of them was waltzing off the compound with the flag. My man, a full 150 pounds soaking wet, tackled the "student," and relieved him of his burden. After what was left of the team was evacuated - a harrowing ride from the compound out to Mehrabad Airport complete with AK-47-toting teenage "students" - to Rome and onward to CONUS. We met them at the airport in Rome with a case of cold beer. These two guys are normally unflappable, but after that experience, they were clearly shaken. The team chief smuggled out his "jube dog." The Iranian PanAM clerk tried to charge him $750 to send the dog as baggage on to Rome. The chief wrote PanAM a check and the the first thing he did when he got to Washington was put a stop payment order it.
The flag accompanied my man to his next post in southern Africa, where it flew over the Embassy for several years.
I remember when all of this happened. I also remember you going to retrieve them from FCO. About 4 years ago, over at the K's house in Millersville, B recounted most of the story for us. It took him about 45 mins to tell it. Quite a story. The thing that struck me was that B had said he cabled home with the news that the situation was now critical and the savages will be coming over the wall any minute. The response received from Ft Meade was to wait and report. We know what B and your Man did next....Funny thing about Iran now, they would probaly be the least hostile to Americans. Its the Iranian government that makes relations difficult; the population in Iran is very young, and you cant keep the internet and satelite TV away, no matter how much the govt wants to censor. I believe Iran will be an ally or something resembling one within 5 years..