Perot attended texarkana junior college for two years before entering the united states naval academy at annapolis, maryland, in. When two of perots men from eds were imprisoned by the iranian government, perot organized a daring rescue mission that successfuly whisked the two men to their freedom. The rescue was portrayed in a book and a tv miniseries called on the wings. They were victims of an anticorruption drive mounted during the shahs last days in iran, a drive far more caught up in the politics of the moment than in. K amin mohammadi was born in iran in 1969 and exiled to the uk in 1979. Perot worker accused in dell deal led 1979 iran rescue dan nystedt. Mar 11, 2017 electronic data systems proved itself by designing a documentcontrol system for tehrans navy, then moved onto the big contract. Perot worker accused in dell deal led 1979 iran rescue it. Reagan deserves credit for 1981 hostage release american. On wings of eagles by ken follett is a tale of adventure through the leadership of ross perot, the head of electronic data systems, which at one point was the largest data processing company in the world. On wings of eagles is the account of an incredible rescue by a green beret colonel and a group of corporate executives hastily trained into a fighting team.
Set against the background of the iranian revolution, it tells the true story of the rescue of paul. Kenneth douglas ken taylor, oc october 5, 1934 october 15, 2015 was a canadian diplomat, educator and businessman, best known for his role in the 1979 covert operation called the canadian caper when he was the canadian ambassador to iran. Former officials dispute perots version of iran rescue they say. Iran did not release the hostages until january 20, 1981 day 444 of their captivity, and the day of president ronald reagans inauguration. In what may be the ultimate act of employer loyalty the iran rescue you go to iran in 1979 to get your people out. Perot himself went to iran and entered the prison where his men were held. In 1979, ross perot participated in a private mission to iran to rescue two hostages who were employees of eds. Its failure, and the humiliating public debacle that ensued, damaged u. On wings of eagles, which came out in 1983, became folletts fifth hit. Perot directed a successful rescue mission composed of eds employees and led by retired green beret colonel arthur bull simons. Jul 09, 2019 ross perot holding a business machine manufactured by his company, electronic data systems, dallas, texas. On wings of eagles is the 100% true story of the rescue operation that ross perot organizes after two of his eds employees working in the iran branch are jailed. The rescue was the basis of the book on wings of eagles, by ken. Jul 20, 2011 kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books.
Nbc later made a tv miniseries about the middle east hostage rescue by eds employee volunteers led by col. Perot worker accused in dell deal led 1979 iran rescue. He and another eds manager were taken hostage during 1979 in iran, triggering a rescue directed by company founder ross perot. We are a rescue committed to the welfare of dogs in iran.
Eds grows from oneman operation to industry leader ross and margot perot looked at ticker tape on march 3, 1971, the day electronic data systems debuted on the new york stock exchange. On wings of eagles by ken follett humphrey fellows at. Eds was founded not only with the spirit of heroism but also with integral components to its business philosophyteamwork, performance, and commitment. Ross perot, american businessman and philanthropist who ran as an independent candidate for u. She is a journalist, travel writer and broadcaster and coauthored the lonely. Sep 25, 2009 the perot systems worker accused by u. This book is personal for me since i worked for ross perots firm, eds, in san. The rescue attempt came during the revolution in which the shah of iran was overthrown. The iranian hostage rescue mission after exhausting all diplomatic channels to achieve the release of 53 americans held hostage in iran for over six months, president carter undertook a dramatic military rescue attempt in april 1980. Kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books books the guardian. Saleh, an iranian employee of eds at the time, led. The story of their rescue, like so many tales that have emerged from the lone. Dedicated in 1983, the iran rescue mission memorial consists of a white marble column with a bronze plaque listing the names and ranks of those who lost their lives during the mission. The mercenary rescue of two american workers held prisoner by iranian.
There are newer books, like bowdens guests of the ayatollah, that tell a more complete story in just one chapter, than mr. The rescue was portrayed in a book and a tv miniseries called on the. Eds on wings of eagles 25th anniversary 2004 youtube. Iran rescue mission memorial arlington national cemetery.
Eds grows from oneman operation to industry leader ross and margot perot looked at ticker tape on march 3, 1971, the day electronic data systems debuted on. Indeed, the iranian government prosecutor offered to free gaylord and chiapparone if eds would renegotiate its contract with iran. This story takes place in 197879, not long this book is amazing. Nbc later made a tv miniseries about the middle east hostage rescue by eds employee volunteers led. The figure at the center of wall streets latest insidertrading scandal also played a key role in the daring 1979 rescue of two hostages held in iran that was orchestrated by h. Organizer of iran rescue mission that inspired argo film. Operation eagle claw rescue mission 1980 britannica. With the cooperation of the american central intelligence agency, taylor helped six americans escape from iran during the iran hostage crisis by. Former officials dispute perots version of iran rescue. The events were chronicled in the book, on wings of eagles. According to the follett book, an iranian eds employee led a mob that stormed the prison. If these illegal interventions are permitted to continue, the implication seems to be, pretty soon, horror of horrors, no murderously repressive regimes might remain. Worker accused in dell deal led 1979 iran rescue cio. Indicative of this tendency is the misspelling of the authors name, yalda for yelda, and then a play on the persian.
Reviews dina rizk khourys book on iraqis and how they experienced the three gulf wars. This year eds celebrates the 25th anniversary of the singular event that defines this philosophy. In addition to folletts careful attention to detail, i was impressed by the commitment that all these men had to one. When executives from an important texas corporation are taken hostage during the iranian revolution, magnate ross perot launches a special unit for their rescue. The rescue team, members of perots former company, electronic data systems, then escaped to the turkish border, according to the book. Perot has long claimed that an iranian eds employee, acting on his. Within days, simons was selecting and training a team of eds employees all highly decorated vietnam veterans into a hostage rescue team to rescue the two executives from the tehran prison and bring them home. Shel hershorn hainactive getty images the raids began on the morning of april 25, 1979. Molavi has a keen and nuanced view of iran, and his book introduces the general reader not only to irans. Ken follett wrote a best selling novel, on wings of eagles, about the rescue. Jul 14, 2019 on wings of eagles, which came out in 1983, became folletts fifth hit.
In the 1970s, perot was well known in eds home of dallas, and on wall street, but attracted major national attention after organizing a rescue of two eds employees who were. Sep 01, 1983 on wings of eagles is the 100% true story of the rescue operation that ross perot organizes after two of his eds employees working in the iran branch are jailed. Coming on the tenth anniversary of the usled invasion of iraq, this book tells a multilayered story of a society in which war has become the norm. Things were unstable in iran anyway at the time, the washington post noted. He was the founder 1962 of electronic data systems, and the companys success made him extremely wealthy.
Mendezs plan to rescue them involved setting up the production in hollywood of a fake science fiction film titled argo, travel to iran to scout out locations, then return to the united states with the six u. Perots exploit in iran was recounted in a book, on wings of eagles by ken follett. When all else failed, eds lawyers tried to convince iranian officers to accept the u. On wings of eagles is a 1983 nonfiction thriller written by british author ken follett. On wings of eagles is the account of an incredible rescue by a green beret. On wings of eagles book by ken follett thriftbooks. Electronic data systems proved itself by designing a documentcontrol system for tehrans navy, then moved onto the big contract. Chiapparone was a 39year old technician and businessman working in iran for eds, a texas computer company. I had heard years ago about ross perot rescuing his employees from iran. The unbelievable story of how ross perot launched a freelance. Their goal is to get the two eds employees out of a brutal jail and get them. Carters action was not only completely contrary to his explicit commitment to. In this account of a reallife rescue of two eds employees captured in iran, follet gives a fascinating glimpse into a corporate world that no longer seems to exist. Ross perot, in full henry ross perot, born june 27, 1930, texarkana, texas, u.
Operation eagle claw, known as operation tabas persian. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Tehran hostage rescue mission fails a topsecret attempt by the united states to free american hostages held in iran s capital,tehran, has collapsed in failure, with the death of eight soldiers. Still, if you want to know the details of who was who and what they did in early 1980 during the hostage crisis, this tome is a good resource. President jimmy carter to attempt to end the iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff held captive at the embassy of the united states, tehran on 24 april 1980. Ross perot holding a business machine manufactured by his company, electronic data systems, dallas, texas. Buy a cheap copy of on wings of eagles book by ken follett. Ross perot, the annapolis graduate from texarkana, tex. The rescue team felt that if there was going to be a book, it should be an accurate one by a good writer.