Posted on 04/23/2008 5:54:26 PM PDT by RaceBannon
The following account of history is taken from the website THE HOSTAGE RESCUE ATTEMPT. I was one of the Marines off Iran for this event and created this website for all to remember the events of the day, the history of the events leading up to this fateful day, and most importantly, to remember the lives of the men who died in this valiant attempt to rescue 52 Americans held hostage illegally by the nation of Iran
From a History Channel Account. Note: the link is dead now
The Iran hostage crisis began November 4, 1979, when a mob of Iranians seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking a large group of employees hostage. Eleven months earlier, a revolution led by the Islamic fundamentalist Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini had overthrown Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran.
Relations between the two countries had been strained since that time, as Iran's new leaders denounced the United States for its longtime support of the shah. When the exiled shah entered the United States in October for medical care, many Iranians feared a repetition of the U.S.-assisted coup that had put the shah on the throne in 1953. The hostage taking followed.
Nineteen hostages were released within a few weeks; the remaining fifty-two were held for 444 days. When it became clear that the Iranian government was not going to resolve the problem, President Jimmy Carter moved to freeze Iranian assets, both in the United States and abroad. Diplomatic efforts were launched through the United Nations and various private intermediaries, but by March 1980 it had become clear that none of the rival political groups in Iran was willing to risk the unpopularity of letting the hostages go. This impasse led Carter to order a rescue effort by helicopter, but three of the eight helicopters failed before reaching Tehran, and the mission had to be aborted. Eight men died in the operation.
News of the failure aggravated the American public's mounting frustration over the crisis, providing a focus for broader criticism of Carter's administration (sharpened by the fact that this was an election year) as well as more general distress over America's waning ability to control world events. These issues undoubtedly contributed to Carter's defeat by Ronald Reagan in November. Nevertheless, by then a new Iranian government had been formed, and serious negotiations began soon after, with Algeria as mediator. The United States agreed to unfreeze most Iranian assets in exchange for the hostages. Finally, on January 20, 1981 - only a few hours after Carter left office - all fifty-two hostages were released and landed safely in West Germany.
THE FALLEN HEROES
This photograph is taken at Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial for these heroes is across from the Ampitheater, and is next to the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial.
Personal Stories of those at Desert One:
The Hostage Rescue Attempt In Iran, April 24-25, 1980
PERSONAL STORIES OF THOSE AT DESERT ONE, AND THOSE AT SEA
New letters have come in from several people who were at Desert One. They are printed below with permission. They requested that their identities be witheld.
Hi Marine,
A friend just recently told me of you website and I wanted to thank you for your efforts. It's hard to believe all of that occurred almost 24 years ago, but your site brought it all back.. I decided to thank you, because I've placed it in my mind's "lock box" for a long time.
I was an AE2 in HM-14 at the time and about 40 days from the end of my enlistment. I had a job line up (with the company I work for to this day - Sikorsky) and was making plans to leave the family behind for 1 - 2 years to work in Iran - of all places. They had RH-53s too.
Right after the hostage taking, as reported, HM-16 got packed out to the IO. A couple days later, at HM-14 we got directed to put 5 or 6 aircraft on the line ready for flight and have no one around them. A Marine helo came in dropped crews and took the aircraft to "an undisclosed location". I think it was about a week later, the aircraft returned and my Skipper called me in and gave me orders for accompany a flight of three aircraft cross country to Yuma and stay behind for 10 days to provide AFCS training to "service personnel" and then return to homebase for processing out. Enroute one of the aircraft developed a problem and I stayed with it in Nashville to change out an Accessory gearbox. So when we arrived at Yuma MCAS, we were alone. The next morning our aircraft was gone and within a few hours the crew, except for me, was directed to get transport back to Norfolk. Around 1400, waiting in the Operations Building, I met Col. Pitman for the 1st time. "get your ass on that Huey out there and keep your mouth shut unless I ask you a question! CLEAR?!" And so, this ground pounding electrician was in.
We flew to a remote airfield (we didn't actually operate out of Yuma) where the Colonel handed me over to a Marine Gunner (everyone called him Dad - I called him Sir for the 1st weeks). He and a Marine Sgt (John Harvey) got me signed in (Non-Disclosure and National Security stuff) and billeted. Over the next few months John and I worked closely together since he was an electrician also. He was a sharp, straight shooter and we respected each other professionally and personally. One thing that didn't seem to come out were the false "go's".
It's a long time ago, but I remember packing up a couple times before April (when the weather would have been more reliable), but got turned back because "Washington wasn't ready". During our time "out West" it is amazing that we didn't lose anyone or aircraft. The Navy pilots were doing things they'd never done before and more than one aircraft showed the damage. The Marines got to have their fun with the "Squid", teaching me some hand to hand, aircrew and weapons training. I'd never fired an M16 or a .50 cal., hell I was a mine sweep ground pounder. Dewey Johnson got the weapons training task - I got a broken nose from the 50 cal recoil (too long a story for here) and Dewey about peed himself laughing. But, he was a great guy and an artist with that 50.
But, we did finally get the Go. From my perspective the unit had gelled in the time we were in AZ and we were ready for the mission. When we got to Nimitz, HM-16 had the aircraft ready. Of course I knew most of the guys in 16 and we went over each aircraft...so I know they were as good as they could be. Until two days before the final go (4/22), as far as I knew I was going to be left behind and only six aircraft were launching. But, it was 1st decided all eight would launch, in case something happened during launch and then it was passed that Dash 7 & 8 would go to "feet dry" and then return and finally we were going the whole route. So, John and I were both going. John was primary so he was assigned to Dash 3 and I got Dash 8. I'd spent alot of time with John and Dewey and really wanted to be in their crew, plus the pilots (Schaeffer and Petty) were the best in the unit (my opinion).
Command didn't want John and I together in case an electrician were needed and one of us didn't get to the site(s). At any rate, we were set, but then shit started to happen. 1st it was the hangar deck fire extinguisher, then one of the senior enlisted Marines got hurt loading internal fuel cells and then we were told to lighten the aircraft (funny, the scene from Pearl Harbor about the Doolittle Raid reminded me so much of the frenzy). Even still - with the internal fuel, spare parts I "acquired" and extra ammo, 8 was probably 10k over max gross weight at takeoff. I remember looking at the other aircraft as we rolled off Nimitz at dusk thinking what a great picture it would make.
So we flew....the crew of Dash 8 was a Marine Captain and a Navy LCDR (later a squadron Commander and ultimately a Captain) a Marine SSgt, a Navy AMH1 and me (2nd crewman). As was reported, all went well initially, in a trail formation. We saw Six going down and followed.
By the time we landed and I ran to them, they had shut down and were inspecting the blades. The real problem wasn't so much the blade as the fact the aircraft had sunk to it's belly in the VERY soft sand and might go ground resonant of a re-start. So it was left there (never found to this day, as far as I know) and the crew boarded 8. Of course we'd lost the formation by then and proceeded alone. The came the sand/dust storm. I don't know how those two pilots kept us from running into stuff, but they followed orders kept it low and stayed off the radios.
Special note here about the "special" nav quipment - it was worthless!
One system said 20 miles left of course, the other 30 miles right. So they shot the middle! Finally, after a very close call they decided to try to climb out of the crap, with no success at 5000, they went back to the deck and finally cleared the storm. It was then that the HAC said, "we're over an hour late, I hope they wait for us!" That wasn't what I wanted to hear! We're lost, no homing beacon for Desert One and starting to run low on fuel. But, we made it to Desert One. As we approached we realized there were only three other 53s there - we were number four to arrive. Touchdown was probably the worst part! We were expecting hardpack - the sand was so deep (like several other aircraft) the nose tires bogged and came off the rims! "leapfrogging" to get close to the C130s, my guys came very close to losing it once. But we were in and started to refuel. I had work to do aboard and really don't know more than what has been reported about the decisions there. I do know from later discussions that the crew for Dash 5 wanted to continue and that LTC Seifert felt very strongly that with a little compromise from COL Beckwith we could have proceeded. I do remember hearing the radio call that the mission was aborted.
I thought I'd never feel worse that when I heard that. Until Dash 3 hit the 130.
I didn't see the impact - I heard the radio call for 3 the lift and reposition so the 130 could taxi for departure and looked out to see them lift. As soon as they pulled pitch the dust cloud obscured them and I turned away. Next thing was to flash and the noise. I looked through the cockpit and could see 3 atop the 130, engulfed in flames. Before we could get flight ready (one engine was offline to conserve fuel) we started get hit with cooked off ordinance and the Captain called Abandon Ship. We retreated to a perimeter and then got the order to load up on the 130s. Several of the Marines volunteered to go back to recover survivors or casualties but were ordered (under duress) to load up. We flew back to an "undisclosed" location and eventually back to the East Coast.
We were sequestered for several days and then placed of Admin leave for about 30 days. I eventually reported back to HM-14, terminated my extension and left the service. About a month after that I (and I'm told all the members of the unit) received the DOD Meritorious Service Medal in the mail, with instructions not to display it or discuss the mission until I received authorization to do so. I've yet to get that authorization.
I did receive a very nice note from Major General Vaught. I think he described it best as " a best effort try, against overwhelming odds, by dedicated Americans." None of us were wanna be heroes, but the orders came down and we did what we had to and what we could.
Was the mission flawed? Yes, but the people who tried did what they felt was best, at the time, for all the right reasons. We lost eight great Americans...three that I got to know well and admire to this day. My greatest hope is that the lessons are not forgotten and that the politicians will remember to simply give the order and leave the execution to the experts the country is so lucky to have.
I want to thank No Greater Love for all that they have done to honor the fallen. What they accomplished at Arlington is exceptional.
..
Here is a photo of Freeper FLIGHTLINE taken on April 24, 1980. Our squadron was flying search and rescue when the aircraft were taking off from the Nimitz and heading inbound to Iran.
Here is a scanned copy of the letter I wrote home the day after the attempt. Seems kind of small, not too much written at the time, eh? Well, we did not know much then, almost all I know of the event I learned afterwards. I was in the Arabian Sea, and knew almost nothing!
What I do remember is this: At 4 AM I got off Guard Duty. I was guarding the brig, two guys stole a radio, and I volunteered to be a guard. I went to the hanger deck to wait for early chow, which was at 05:00. I was hanging out on the hanger deck, when a sailor came down from CIC and exclaimed, "Man, there's F-14's and A-6's flying all OVER Iran!" We knew something was up, for the day before, we had our flight crews sent to bed at 16:00! That's right, in the afternoon, and under orders, too! So, knowing this, I informed the two prisoners what was ging on. I spent the night reading my Bible as I usually did, just sitting at the desk I was assigned, wondering what was happening. When that sailor came down to the hanger deck, the wonder increased, and so did the excitement. We were doing SOMETHING! What, we didn't know, just something.
I went to chow, and when others woke up at 06:00 at reville, I told them what I had heard. We were going to a modified General Quarters every day for the previous week, with gunners mates and missile operators manning their general quarters stations every day at 07:00, and this day was no different.
When 10:00 came around, I was sleeping, and the ship went to a full General Quarters, "Set Condition Zebra Throughout the Ship!", and they even announced, "Man your battle stations!" which is NOT a normal announcement for general quarters when in peacetime, regardless of where we were. Even during general quarters drills, I have never heard that phrase, and assumed it was just a movie line or something leftover from WWII. Well, we heard it that day for sure.
The upper two decks, the O-2 and O-1 Levels were sealed off, and NO ONE who did not belong on those decks was allowed, and that was something new. No One who came down from those decks would talk, either! It was a great mystery.
The next day, I was sitting on the S-2 office and speaking with several people when I told my side of what I had heard. S-2 was the intelligence section, and the GySgt in charge, Gunny Dinghus was adamant about secrecy. There was a Cpl in there, Adams, and he was looking scared stiff. Dinghus insisted on his silence, so he knew something. When I informed Dinghus of what I knew, he turned to me angrily, and insisted on me telling him who told me this. I told him the truth, that the Aircraft over Iran statement came at 04:30 or so from a sailor, he stormed out of the room, and when he returned later, he ignored me for a minute, then turned to me and said, "Bancroft, you are NOT to repeat this to ANYBODY, You hear me? Anybody!" I almost chuckled, because I thought it was just a warning, thinking that I really knew nothing, but he repeated himself, and in a very angry manner. All I could think was, WOW.
Additional Comments:
Evidence Jimmy Carter abandoned the Shah
G’night My!
*HUG* Sleep well!
I want to hear more about your “swaray” tomorrow!
LOL
Yeah. I havent responded yet. I’ll be up all night.
I should be there early afternoon.
Dinner at 8
Glad to hear that it wasn’t a bad day at work. That’s different anyhow!
I wish you could be in Texas with us, too. *sigh*
Maybe next time. I know you’ll miss seeing everyone you
know there.
LOL! But it is darned hot for here!!
Why are you going to be up all night?
I know you’ll make it all right and it’ll all be good! :D
*sigh*
Well, like BB said..
New adventures await!
Hiya, ms b...((HUGS))...home safe and sound. Too hot to eat. I’ll do that later. Good day? Got a suitcase out? Minette helping?
Oh, yes! We are gonna have a total BLAST in AZ!!!
I can hardly wait to see my Sis again! It’s been so long
since August!
You know! You get to chatting and then its 1230!
Gnight. cya soon
*HUG*
Hiya Ma!
A pretty nice day thanks, and you?
Suticase will be brought out tomorrow.
Minette helped by laying herself across some of the clothes I picked out..
I think she likes them!
One thing for sure you got scoreboard over 60 below winters in Alaska
You have no idea what awaits you!!!!
I can’t wait either!
We’ll have great “How I spent my summer vacation” stories!
LOL
LOL
Hiya Randy!
*HUG*
I’m about to find out VERY soon!
How are you this evening?
You ever seen a dancing chicken?
I’M READY!
I want to go NOW!
Don’t I know it! LOL!
I have been up half the night waaaay too many times!
See ya tomorrow! Have a good day!
As long as ya don’t say: Be afraid, be very afraid
LOL
A dancing Chicken?
I’m ready to go now, too!
We sure will have cool stories. I haven’t been to AZ before (have you?) and everything will be new and fun for me!
But, best of all is seeing our FRiends...and BB...again! :D
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