More than 300 Iranians stormed the US embassy Tehran, IranNovember 4, 1979 – Taking 66 Americans hostage.
The embassy was attacked and captured in February of that year, but was soon returned to American control.
Emerging from the chaos of the Iranian Revolution and loyal to Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini, the Iranians held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days (14 were released during captivity).
In “Persian Puzzle”, best selling author Kenneth M. Pollack writes, “For the students who occupied the embassy, for the Iranian revolutionary officials who supported them, and for the majority of the people of Iran, the embassy occupation was a response to the 1953 coup… To some extent, it was about preventing a repeat performance.”
He also wrote, “What comes out… is that the far more compelling reason for the Iranians was revenge. This was an act of retaliation for the 1953 coup, designed to humiliate the United States, to outrage the American people. and address the anger and psychological wounds that the Iranian people still bear from this incident.”
Jack Carr, No. 1 bestselling author, is a former Navy SEAL task unit commander and sniper with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. He reflects on the events of April 24, 1980, 44 years ago, and says, “What lessons were learned in Desert One that still shape special operations command and control, training, and planning today? The answers are there.” (Jack Carr; ADN-Buildarchive/Ulstein Bild via Getty Images)
On the evening of April 24, 1980, nearly six months into what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, eight Navy RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters took off from the USS Nimitz in the Gulf of Oman to rendezvous with three MC-130s . Delta Force bombers from Masirah, an island in the Arabian Sea, with three other EC-130s carrying fuel.
The no-go criteria for Operation Eagle Claw was less than six sea stallions.
After refueling the helicopters and transferring the bombers, the C-130s planned to return to Masirah.
In the coming days the force would have been reorganized and a rescue attempt would have been made – but this did not happen.
The helos carrying the Delta assault force would then fly to Desert Two, where Delta would be ROD (Remain Over Day).
It will then move to the embassy in vehicles received by a forward force element consisting of two members. army special forces team Out of Germany: “Fred” – an Air Force E6 who spoke Persian – and Special Operations veteran Dick Meadows, now a civilian, with the assistance of CIA assets known as “Bob” and “Mohammed”.
Attack on the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, November 4, 1979, when Iranian students climbed over the wall of the US Embassy and took 52 members of the staff hostage. (STR/IRNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Less than six helos reached Desert One and the mission was aborted.
In the coming days the force would be reorganized and an attempt would be made to rescue the hostages – but this did not happen.
A helo collided with one of the EC-130s ignited an explosion In which eight soldiers were killed.
The hostages were released on January 20, 1981 – minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President of the United States.
carter white house The failed mission was acknowledged the next day and no further rescue attempts were made.
The hostages were separated and taken to several locations throughout Iran.
The Iranians held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. He was not released until January 20, 1981, after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President. (API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
He was released a few minutes later on January 20, 1981 Ronald Reagan Sworn in as President of the United States.
This is the story most people know.
But as is often the case, there’s more to it.
‘The answers are there’
Do you know how Delta was planning to attack targets after infiltrating the Iranian capital?
Jack Carr takes on novelist David Morrell, born April 24: ‘personal hero and literary icon’
How were they planning to evacuate? What about the advance force team?
The lessons learned from the tragedy in Desert One led directly to the establishment of JSOC – Joint Special Operations Command.
How did they come to Tehran and what were they doing?
How did they obtain the vehicles that were to transport the invasion force into the city?
In this April 26, 1980 photo, a damaged helicopter sits on the ground behind the charred remains of a second American helicopter in the Iranian desert of Dasht-e-Kavir, April 26, 1980. This place is about 300 air miles from Tehran. , was the site where the American rescue effort for hostages taken in Tehran was abandoned – and where an American helicopter and transport plane collided. (ADN-buildarchive/Ulstein Bild via Getty Images)
What about the STOL (short take off and landing) aircraft that took off and landed in Desert One on March 31 to take soil samples?
What lessons were learned in Desert One that still shape special operations command and control, training, and planning today?
The answers are there.
The lessons learned from the tragedy in Desert One led directly to the establishment of Joint Special Operations Command, JSOC.
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It is a command that would lead another mission a little more than 30 years removed from Operation Eagle Claw.
The mission also involved military helicopters crossing the border.
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It was called Operation Neptune Spear.
And its result will be the death of Osama bin Laden.
Follow Jack Carr on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa,
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