2RHPZ
04-28-2005, 02:01 AM
America remembers Desert One heroes
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
America honored eight American servicemen April 25 who died attempting to rescue American hostages in Iran 25 years ago.
A ceremony here brought together the families of those killed, their comrades and those servicemembers who carry on the special operations mission.
In November 1979, Iranian militants took 53 Americans hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. It was the most egregious violation of the principles of diplomacy in the history of statecraft, said L. Bruce Laingen, the highest ranking American taken hostage.
On April 25, 1980, the rescue attempt, dubbed "Operation Eagle Claw," came to a flaming end on the floor of the desert near Tehran. Eight Americans -- five Airmen and three Marines -- were killed when the rotor of a helicopter sliced into the fuselage of a C-130 Hercules.
Link (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123010370)
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
America honored eight American servicemen April 25 who died attempting to rescue American hostages in Iran 25 years ago.
A ceremony here brought together the families of those killed, their comrades and those servicemembers who carry on the special operations mission.
In November 1979, Iranian militants took 53 Americans hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. It was the most egregious violation of the principles of diplomacy in the history of statecraft, said L. Bruce Laingen, the highest ranking American taken hostage.
On April 25, 1980, the rescue attempt, dubbed "Operation Eagle Claw," came to a flaming end on the floor of the desert near Tehran. Eight Americans -- five Airmen and three Marines -- were killed when the rotor of a helicopter sliced into the fuselage of a C-130 Hercules.
Link (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123010370)