Today in history....Nov 4, 1979

[shefearsnothing]

I know it's election day but I wanted to reflect on today and what it means to me, personally. 29 years ago today my father was taken hostage at the US embassy in Iran. He was held there with about 70 other Americans. He returned home 444 days later. For those of you old enough to remember this....well it was pretty big news back then. Anyway, it's what I am thinking about today. Obama or McCain may make history today but today will always be about my father and the rest of those hostages for me.

The Hostage Crisis in Iran
On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and took approximately seventy Americans captive. This terrorist act triggered the most profound crisis of the Carter presidency and began a personal ordeal for Jimmy Carter and the American people that lasted 444 days.

President Carter committed himself to the safe return of the hostages while protecting America's interests and prestige. He pursued a policy of restraint that put a higher value on the lives of the hostages than on American retaliatory power or protecting his own political future.

The toll of patient diplomacy was great, but President Carter's actions brought freedom for the hostages with America's honor preserved.

Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, began his reign in 1941, succeeding his father, Reza Khan, to the throne. In a 1953 power struggle with his prime minister, the Shah gained American support to prevent nationalization of Iran's oil industry. In return for assuring the U.S. a steady supply of oil, the Shah received economic and military aid from eight American presidents.

Early in the 1960s, the Shah announced social and economic reforms but refused to grant broad political freedom. Iranian nationalists condemned his U.S. supported regime and his "westernizing" of Iran. During rioting in 1963, the Shah cracked down, suppressing his opposition. Among those arrested and exiled was a popular religious nationalist and bitter foe of the United States, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Between 1963 and 1979, the Shah spent billions of oil dollars on military weapons. The real price of military strength was the loss of popular support. Unable to sustain economic progress and unwilling to expand democratic freedoms, the Shah's regime collapsed in revolution. On January 16, 1979, the Shah fled Iran, never to return.

The exiled Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Tehran in February 1979 and whipped popular discontent into rabid anti-Americanism. When the Shah came to America for cancer treatment in October, the Ayatollah incited Iranian militants to attack the U.S. On November 4, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun and its employees taken captive. The hostage crisis had begun.

[625]

The toll of patient diplomacy was great, but President Carter's actions brought freedom for the hostages with America's honor preserved.

No offense, but Carter was an incompetent, wimp. He had nothing to do with the release of the hostages. It was no coincidence that the hostages were released the day after Reagan was sworn in.

Edit: Correction. The hostages were released the same day that Reagan was sworn in.

[shefearsnothing]

Agreed. I didn't type that up. Copied a basic summary from elsewhere.

[billamj]

Damn! Your family is often in my thoughts and I never knew it. I was stationed at Rhein-Main when the C-9 carrying those hostages were returned to us. I was one of the hundreds of military personel on hand to greet our returning heroes. I tear up just thinking about it. I took part in the parade that we had the day that they finally got to go home to their families. Yes, I remember, I remember it well. I don't know if your father is still with us or not, but if he is, please let him know that that day will not be forgotten.

[DaveM55]

If I could rep you I would. I was stationed overseas during that crisis and remember it all too well. I also remember the failed rescue attempt.

I don't want to comment on President Carter or Reagan, I feel that would be a dis-service to your dad.

If your dad is still with us tell him an old Navy guy says welcome home and THANK YOU.

[shefearsnothing]

Yes, he is most certainly alive and well. I will pass the message alone to him. Thank you for remembering him.

[625]

Yes, he is most certainly alive and well. I will pass the message alone to him. Thank you for remembering him.

So your dad was actually one of the hostages? Wow, thank God he made it home ok. It was hard to tell if you simply copy and pasted this story simply making note of this historical day or not. I can't imagine having a family member being held hostage. Not trying to be funny, but it's no wonder you cherish guns and freedom so much.

[shefearsnothing]

Yes, he really was one of them. He was a USN Communications and Intelligence Specialist.

Here's an online encyclopedia page about it http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/...hostage_crisis

[DaveM55]

[larrymeyer]

I believe that today is a holiday in Iran with American flags being burnt and pictures of the take over being plastered all over.

To bad COL Charging Charley Beckworth screwed up the rescue.