On November 5, 1979 (40 years ago this month), the Iran hostage crisis began as militant students stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants. It began 444 days of captivity for 52 U.S. citizens, including Consul General Richard Morefield. The crisis dominated the headlines and still impacts U.S.-Iranian relations today.
The hostages were eventually freed right after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president in January, 1981 – a result of agreements made with Iran. When Dorothea Morefield was on hand to greet her husband at the Stewart airfield near West Point, he had lost 40 pounds and looked ill. The Morefields attended a White House reception hosted by Reagan, but missed the New York City ticker-tape parade. They needed to get back home to San Diego.
There, they were met by local officials and given a key to the city. Thousands lined streets to wave yellow ribbons and balloons as the Morefields were driven to their home. Influential folk asked Morefield to run for senator. He pondered that briefly, and decided it wasn’t what he want to do with his life. Morefield wanted to get back to his chosen profession.
Morefield returned to service with the U.S. State Department and in 1984 was appointed consul general in Guadalajara. He arrived in the city on July 1.
Former Guadalajara Reporter editor Allyn Hunt takes up his story:
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