West Point Marks 30th Anniversary of Iranian Hostage Crisis

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • The Corps of Cadets forms a cordon along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to salute and cheer the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. West Point was the site of their original homecoming in January 1981. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • The Corps of Cadets forms a cordon along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to salute and cheer the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • The Corps of Cadets forms a cordon along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to salute and cheer the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Members of the Corps of Cadets hold a sign along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to celebrate the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Members of the Corps of Cadets hold a patriotic banner along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to celebrate the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Members of the Corps of Cadets hold a sign along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to celebrate the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Members of the press document the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • The Corps of Cadets forms a cordon along Thayer Walkway at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to cheer the arrival of 15 former captives and five members of the rescue team during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • William "Bill" Gallegos, former U.S. Marine Corps guard, shakes hands with cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan 21, 2011, during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • William "Bill" Gallegos, former U.S. Marine Corps guard, waves to with cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan 21, 2011, during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Former U.S. Marine Corps guard Sgt. Kevin Hermening, left, chats with former press attache Barry Rosen at the U.S. Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. Fifteen former captives and five members of the rescue team returned to West Point, the site of their original homecoming in January 1981. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Retired Lt. Col. Logan Fitch, a member of the rescue team, catches up with another participant during the observation of the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Former U.S. Embassy Senior Political Officer Victor Tomseth talks with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Trainor, dean of the Academic Board, during the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Retired Col. David Roeder, left, the deputy U.S. Air Force embassy attaché, catches up with another participant at the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980, at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan 21, 1011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Bruce Laingen, former embassy Chargé d' Affaires, chats with other attendees at the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • U.S. Army Brig, Gen. Timothy Trainor, dean of the Academic Board, and Col. Michael Meese, head of the Department of Soical Sciences, chat with participants at the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. Trainor and Meese were cadets 30 years ago. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Wade Ishimoto, a member of the rescue team, attends the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • The group poses for a group shot in the lobby of Jefferson Hall at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011, during the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • U.S. Army Col. Michael Meese, head of the Department of Social Sciences, escorts the group to lunch in the Cadet Mess Hall at the U.S. Academy at West Point, N.Y. Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Cadets stand at the position of attention before the arrival of fifteen former captives and five members of the rescue team at Cadet Mess Hall at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Kathryn Koob, Embassy Cultural Officer and one of two female hostages, takes part in the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Participants attend the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Fifteen former captives and five members of the rescue team return to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N,Y., Jan. 21, 2011, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980. West Point was the site of their original homecoming in January 1981, U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Cadets give a standing ovation to the arrival of fifteen former captives and five members of the rescue team at Cadet Mess Hall at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Retired Brig. Gen. David Grange, a member of the rescue team, talks with others in the group before lunch in the Cadet Mess Hall at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Thirty years after their release, a color guard honors the former Iranian hostages prior to the men's Army/Navy basketball game at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Thirty years after their release, cadets and fans at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., welcomed the former Iranian hostages at the start of the men's Army/Navy basketball game, Jan 22, 2011. In January 1981, the U.S. Military Academy served as a historic waypoint when the nation cheered the return of a group of American citizens taken hostage at the U.S. embassy in Iran. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan
  • Former Iranian hostages pose for a picture before being honored by cadets and fans at the start of the men's Army/Navy basketball game at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Jan 22, 2011. The occasion marked the 30th anniversary of the hostages' release. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan