Cold War Veterans Blog

House OK’s Saxton Bill Honoring Troops Lost in Failed Hostage Rescue



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
{June 21, 2005}
PR-68-05
CONTACT: JEFF SAGNIP HOLLENDONNER (609) 261-5801 www.house.gov/saxton

House OK’s Saxton Bill Honoring Troops Lost in Failed Hostage Rescue in Iran
Marks 25th Anniversary of ‘Operation Eagle Claw,’ U.S. Special Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jim Saxton today took his resolution honoring American servicemen killed 25 years ago in the failed hostage rescue attempt to the floor of the House of Representatives.
"From the ashes in the Iranian desert rose the well-equipped, highly-trained elite special forces that exist today and are fully engaged in the war on terrorism," Saxton said. "That tragedy led us to recognize the need to join together all of the various special operations forces under a strong, unified command."
Saxton’s bill, House Resolution 256, recognizes the bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of the soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines who participated in Operation Eagle Claw and commends all of the Special Operation Forces currently in service.
"Brave troops died 25 years ago, but their lives weren’t lost for nothing," Saxton said. "They were the seeds of a new breed of special operators that have performed well in the first Gulf War, the Balkans and today in Afghanistan and Iraq."
The House passed H.R. 256 at 10:55 a.m. this morning in a voice vote.
"In the 1980s Congress recognized that our Special Operations Forces were operating with poor and outdated equipment and a lack of funding," Saxton said. "We realized that national defense required more than debate and diplomacy. A series of crucial reforms took the first steps toward rebuilding the Special Operations force. The new U.S. Special Operations Command (U.S. SOCOM) was born to ensure that the problems encountered with Operation Eagle Claw would not be repeated."
As chairman of the House Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, Mr. Saxton oversees all U.S. Special Forces, including Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, Green Berets and other special operators. Saxton helped create the Subcommittee after 9/11, and is its first chairman.
On Nov. 4, 1979, Islamic extremists stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 66 American hostages, 13 of whom were released between November 19-20, 1979. After months of diplomatic negotiations, planning, and intergovernmental debate, a complex rescue mission dubbed "Operation Eagle Claw" was approved by President Carter. On April 24, 1980, a Task Force comprised of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, Army Rangers, Air Force Special Operations Wing personnel, and Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots moved undetected over thousands of miles to a remote location in the Iranian desert known by the code name "Desert One." Due to mechanical failures and weather problems only six of eight helicopters successfully arrived at Desert One. At Desert One, a combination of helicopters and MC-130/EC-130 gunships rendezvoused with the intention of rescuing the hostages 200 miles away in Tehran the following evening. Six helicopters was the minimum number that could successfully complete Operation Eagle Claw.
Mechanical, weather and security problems plagued the mission. Within minutes of the arrival of the MC-130 Combat Talon at Desert One, the ground security force stopped a bus with 44 Iranians aboard. Shortly thereafter a gasoline truck was blown up when it got too close to Desert One. The mission was dealt its final blow when one of the remaining helicopters lost its primary hydraulic system, and the rescue attempt was aborted. At that point one of the helicopters collided with a C-130 aircraft on the ground resulting in the death of five airmen and three Marines. The remaining troops managed to evacuate the wounded men and salvageable equipment back to friendly territory.
Today SOCOM is better armed and better trained than ever before.

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