As a young man, I went to boot camp where platoons of Iranian contingents practiced along side us. Then the Shah was overturned and Iran became an Islamic Republic. I don’t like to think what happened to those Iranians after they were sent home; I got to know a couple of them during A school. I was floating on the Indian Ocean around the time of the kidnapping of the U.S. hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. I literally received a t-shirt that said “I got my tan off the coast of Iran.” This morning, I learned the USS Nimitz was on its way to the area in response to the Israel-Iranian conflict. It caused me to write the following:

Sailors are supposedly superstitious.

In January 1979, the Shah of Iran was overthrown, and Ayatollah Khomeini became Iran’s leader, turning the nation into a theocratic Islamic Republic. In October of that year, President Carter allowed the Shah to enter the United States for cancer treatment. This angered the new Iranian regime, and on November 4, 1979, 52 American hostages were taken from the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

Carter attempted various strategies to resolve the hostage crisis, including diplomatic negotiations and a failed rescue operation called Operation Eagle Claw in April 1980. The hostages were eventually released on January 20, 1981—the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President—ending a 444-day ordeal.

Operation Eagle Claw was launched on April 20, 1980, to rescue the 52 American hostages held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, since November 4, 1979. From an aircraft carrier deployed in the region, Sea Stallion helicopters were to transport a rescue team to a desert staging area known as Desert One, located 200 miles southeast of Tehran. From Desert One, the plan was to move to another staging area closer to the capital, then proceed with the rescue mission in the city.

The operation faced multiple challenges, including difficult terrain and weather conditions. Mechanical issues caused three of the eight helicopters to malfunction, leaving too few to continue. The mission was ultimately aborted. While withdrawing from Desert One, a helicopter collided with a C-130 transport aircraft, resulting in the deaths of eight American servicemen and injuries to several others.

With its failure and geopolitical consequences, Operation Eagle Claw led to the eventual creation of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)—a unified combatant command of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for overseeing the various special operations components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Units reporting to SOCOM include the Green Berets, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Air Force Pararescue, and the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

The aircraft carrier from which the failed mission was launched? The USS Nimitz, a nuclear-powered carrier with approximately 90 aircraft and 5,000 personnel. It is now enroute to the Middle East ahead of schedule in response to the current Israel–Iran conflict.

The USS Nimitz was featured in the 1980 movie “The Final Countdown”, where a mysterious storm transports it back in time to December 6, 1941, just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The crew faced the dilemma of whether to change history by intervening in the attack, knowing that their modern aircraft and technology could alter the course of World War II. Today, her mission could very well position the ship and her crew on the cusp of altering the course of world events.

What’s noteworthy is that this is supposed to be the USS Nimitz’s final deployment before decommissioning after 50 years of service. Some say things have a way of coming full circle. There is something to be said about the Nimitz—on her last deployment—returning to a situation involving Iran once again.

Fair winds and following seas, old lady of the sea.

P.S.
After writing the above, I learned Trump left the G7 conference early to meet with his National Security Council to consider whether the U.S. should get involved. Iran’s nuclear weapons facility is apparently deep inside a mountain unreachable by anything short of bunker buster bombs. Israel has neither the bombs nor the planes to deliver the munitions. Between the two, only U.S. has the bombs, the planes, and the capability. I don’t know yet the outcome. But if you’re the praying kind, pray for wisdom and the right decision to be made.

Whew, when talking about the Nimitz's history, cannot leave out one of its squadrons (VF-41) almost shot down some Japanese Zeros.

On a more serious note, one of the main reasons Eagle Claw failed:

Carter, even though he was an officer in the Navy, did not trust the military and required Eagle Claw to happen just before his 9:00 pm EDT broadcast to the nation with the intent to shows all what a wonderful leader he was.

Another, not so confirmed, was that Carter was afraid the flag officer(s) in charge of Eagle Claw would take the credit for the operation and not pass it up to the CinC.

Carter didn't care about a little dust storm in the daylight hours.

quote:

withdrawing from Desert One, a helicopter collided with a C-130 transport aircraft, resulting in the deaths of eight American servicemen and injuries to several others.

I was told second hand that a flight of Russian MIGs flew very low over the staging area & jetwash blew the helicopter into the C130. That then was the final reason the mission was aborted. This was second hand so it may not be true.

The only aircraft carrier I was ever on, I think it was 1987-88, came into Wilhelmshaven Germany, anchored offshore. I was US Army Finance and we took them a couple of ammo cans full of dollars and Deutsche Marks, picked up their invoices from local vendors, and got a personal tour from their purser. Also got some nice color 8x10"'s which I have somewhere. Fond memory and my last ARCOM also mentioned it in the write up.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Whew, when talking about the Nimitz's history, cannot leave out one of its squadrons (VF-41) almost shot down some Japanese Zeros.

On a more serious note, one of the main reasons Eagle Claw failed:

Hehe, The Final Countdown, which I think had better F14 combat scenes than Top Gun. At least the fake Zeros looked like Zeros.