January 20, 1981: The Iran Hostages - 30 Years Later

Thirty years ago yesterday, fifty-two U.S. diplomats and public servants were released after spending 444 days as hostages at the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Below is a clip from Andrea Mitchell's show with former hostages Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen (US chargé d'affaires when the embassy was overrun by student protesters) and Ambassador John W. Limbert.

                                    

This one via AFSA: On Friday, January 28th at 10 am, members of the Foreign Service, Civil Service, military, media, Congress, and friends will gather to honor and pay tribute to the fifty-two U.S. diplomats and public servants who were released on January 20, 1981, after spending 444 brave days as hostages in Iran.

The panel discussion on Friday January 28 will feature former hostages Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen, Ambassador John W. Limbert, Mr. Alan B. Golacinski, and Mr. Barry Rosen and will be moderated by NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell. The location is the George C. Marshall Center/East Auditorium at the Department of State.

Ambassador Laingen is a distinguished diplomat who has received many awards for his long career in the Foreign Service, including AFSA’s Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award. Ambassador Limbert was once asked about how his experience as a hostage changed him, he said, "I think I got a new appreciation for our own profession -- that is, the profession of diplomacy.  And the idea of how do you solve problems between nations and between people."  Mr. Golacinski served as the Regional Security Officer at the time and has served in similar assignments throughout his career.  Mr. Rosen was the press attaché at the Tehran embassy, and came home to the U.S. to a one-year-old daughter he had never seen before. Ambassador Laingen, Ambassador Limbert, Mr. Golacinski, Mr. Rosen, and all their colleagues from Iran were awarded the State Department's Award for Valor for their courage and sacrifice.

RSVPs are required and should be sent to events@afsa.org. If you do not have a valid State, USAID, or other agency badge, please include your date of birth and driver’s license number in your RSVP e-mail, as this information is needed to pre-clear visitors through State Department security.

 

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