Luke LaManna

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called The Real Argo.

One time during my military career in 2014, my team was doing a counterintelligence job in Manila, operating in and out of a hotel in plain clothes. We worked in eight-hour shifts around the clock, and every night we had some time off. We ended up just going right next door to a bar for a few drinks and some karaoke.

One time during my military career in 2014, my team was doing a counterintelligence job in Manila, operating in and out of a hotel in plain clothes. We worked in eight-hour shifts around the clock, and every night we had some time off. We ended up just going right next door to a bar for a few drinks and some karaoke.

We all picked out our fake names, agreed on our story, and it was kind of fun just pretending to be someone else for the few weeks we were there. I chose the name Sam, and I loved to sing karaoke. And I still remember every night we'd go back to the bar, the owner of the bar would see me walk in, give me a big slap on the shoulder and just scream, Sam is back!

We all picked out our fake names, agreed on our story, and it was kind of fun just pretending to be someone else for the few weeks we were there. I chose the name Sam, and I loved to sing karaoke. And I still remember every night we'd go back to the bar, the owner of the bar would see me walk in, give me a big slap on the shoulder and just scream, Sam is back!

Was it a little nerve-wracking wondering if I was ever going to slip up and introduce myself with my actual name? Yes, but we all kept up the act. And it was a funny feeling leaving that operation and knowing there was a bar full of locals who thought that they met a guy named Sam who was traveling in Manila on some kind of business.

Was it a little nerve-wracking wondering if I was ever going to slip up and introduce myself with my actual name? Yes, but we all kept up the act. And it was a funny feeling leaving that operation and knowing there was a bar full of locals who thought that they met a guy named Sam who was traveling in Manila on some kind of business.

My life was never in danger, so I can't imagine the stress of having to craft an identity and fool people who could have executed me if they wanted to. The Argo story is wild. On November 4, 1979, militant student protesters stormed the United States Embassy in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

My life was never in danger, so I can't imagine the stress of having to craft an identity and fool people who could have executed me if they wanted to. The Argo story is wild. On November 4, 1979, militant student protesters stormed the United States Embassy in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

More than 50 Americans working at the embassy were taken hostage and used as bargaining chips in the high-pressure conflict between America and Iran. They would ultimately be held in captivity for over a year. The same day, however, six Americans managed to escape and hide out in the Canadian embassy.

More than 50 Americans working at the embassy were taken hostage and used as bargaining chips in the high-pressure conflict between America and Iran. They would ultimately be held in captivity for over a year. The same day, however, six Americans managed to escape and hide out in the Canadian embassy.

While they were hiding, the CIA cooked up one of the wildest covert operations in history to rescue them. It became known as the Canadian Caper, or more popularly, Argo. The story was popularized by the 2012 Best Picture-winning movie directed by Ben Affleck, but a lot of the details of the real mission were changed or simplified for the screen.

While they were hiding, the CIA cooked up one of the wildest covert operations in history to rescue them. It became known as the Canadian Caper, or more popularly, Argo. The story was popularized by the 2012 Best Picture-winning movie directed by Ben Affleck, but a lot of the details of the real mission were changed or simplified for the screen.

Most notably, the way the movie depicts the hero, Tony Mendez, played by Affleck, is a lot different from the real man. Affleck plays Tony as a down-on-his-luck CIA agent with self-destructive tendencies. He's on the outs with his wife and desperately trying to prove himself. But in reality, Tony was one of the best agents in the history of the CIA.

Most notably, the way the movie depicts the hero, Tony Mendez, played by Affleck, is a lot different from the real man. Affleck plays Tony as a down-on-his-luck CIA agent with self-destructive tendencies. He's on the outs with his wife and desperately trying to prove himself. But in reality, Tony was one of the best agents in the history of the CIA.

He was known for his creative missions that used technical wizardry and complex disguises to protect some of the CIA's most valuable assets during the Cold War. But despite the Hollywood treatment, the real story remains stranger than fiction. So the question is, how did Argo come to be? Why did President Carter and the CIA approve such an audacious plan when so many lives were at risk?

He was known for his creative missions that used technical wizardry and complex disguises to protect some of the CIA's most valuable assets during the Cold War. But despite the Hollywood treatment, the real story remains stranger than fiction. So the question is, how did Argo come to be? Why did President Carter and the CIA approve such an audacious plan when so many lives were at risk?

And how did the unlikely alliance of the CIA and the film industry pull off the rescue? It's a story so extraordinary that even a Hollywood screenwriter couldn't come up with it. As students stormed the embassy on November 4th, 54-year-old Bob Anders was in his office at the American Consulate in Tehran. It was raining hard that day.

And how did the unlikely alliance of the CIA and the film industry pull off the rescue? It's a story so extraordinary that even a Hollywood screenwriter couldn't come up with it. As students stormed the embassy on November 4th, 54-year-old Bob Anders was in his office at the American Consulate in Tehran. It was raining hard that day.

The Iranian protesters were still gathered outside the main gates, as usual. Bob was a senior officer at the consulate, and he knew enough Farsi to understand the words they were chanting. They said, "'God is great. Death to America.'" Bob cleared his throat, trying to keep his attention on the older Iranian couple sitting on the other side of his desk.