Luke LaManna

Hopefully they could hide out there until this all blew over. Fifteen minutes after leaving the embassy, Bob was so nervous he could hardly see straight. But he was the highest-ranking officer among them, not to mention 30 years older, so he had to keep it together. Still, the thought of what might be happening back at the embassy made his heart race.

He had a lot of friends who were now at the mercy of a dangerous mob. He felt guilty for running away, but he knew there was no point turning back, not when he was responsible for four other people. Bob tried to keep his footing on the slick, rain-drenched streets, but as they rounded the corner of the British Embassy, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

He had a lot of friends who were now at the mercy of a dangerous mob. He felt guilty for running away, but he knew there was no point turning back, not when he was responsible for four other people. Bob tried to keep his footing on the slick, rain-drenched streets, but as they rounded the corner of the British Embassy, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

The building was surrounded by another angry mob. They were chanting the same violent words as the protesters at the American embassy. Bob knew they had to get off the streets before anyone recognized them as foreigners. He took a deep breath and told the others to follow him to his apartment. It was only a few blocks away. They could hide there while they figured out what to do next.

The building was surrounded by another angry mob. They were chanting the same violent words as the protesters at the American embassy. Bob knew they had to get off the streets before anyone recognized them as foreigners. He took a deep breath and told the others to follow him to his apartment. It was only a few blocks away. They could hide there while they figured out what to do next.

The group snaked their way through the streets. Joe Stafford wrapped his arm around his wife Kathy to comfort her. Cora and Mark Lijak gripped each other's hands tightly. Bob breathed a sigh of relief when they got to his building without being spotted. The five of them crammed into his tiny apartment. Bob pulled out his small communication radio that the embassy had given him.

The group snaked their way through the streets. Joe Stafford wrapped his arm around his wife Kathy to comfort her. Cora and Mark Lijak gripped each other's hands tightly. Bob breathed a sigh of relief when they got to his building without being spotted. The five of them crammed into his tiny apartment. Bob pulled out his small communication radio that the embassy had given him.

The group huddled around the radio, hoping to hear some news of their colleagues at the embassy. A panicked American voice came through. He referred to himself by the code name Palmtree. Then he described how the militants were unloading guns from trucks and heading into the embassy.

The group huddled around the radio, hoping to hear some news of their colleagues at the embassy. A panicked American voice came through. He referred to himself by the code name Palmtree. Then he described how the militants were unloading guns from trucks and heading into the embassy.

Over the next hour, the American voices on the radio gradually disappeared and were replaced by voices speaking in Farsi. To Bob, this could only mean one thing. The embassy security forces had been taken over. They were now officially under Iranian control.

Over the next hour, the American voices on the radio gradually disappeared and were replaced by voices speaking in Farsi. To Bob, this could only mean one thing. The embassy security forces had been taken over. They were now officially under Iranian control.

A few weeks after the embassy takeover in mid-December, Tony Mendez was in his painting studio at his home in Virginia. During the day, Tony was chief of disguise at the CIA. His job was to come up with different schemes to get people out of life or death situations. He had a solid track record of disguising CIA assets and saving their lives.

A few weeks after the embassy takeover in mid-December, Tony Mendez was in his painting studio at his home in Virginia. During the day, Tony was chief of disguise at the CIA. His job was to come up with different schemes to get people out of life or death situations. He had a solid track record of disguising CIA assets and saving their lives.

But at night, he needed to blow off steam, and he did this by painting. If anyone ever asked him, Tony would tell them he considered himself more of a painter than a spy. He loved his wife and three children, but sometimes he needed to disappear into the studio he'd built above his garage. But that night, he couldn't concentrate on the landscape painting he was working on.

But at night, he needed to blow off steam, and he did this by painting. If anyone ever asked him, Tony would tell them he considered himself more of a painter than a spy. He loved his wife and three children, but sometimes he needed to disappear into the studio he'd built above his garage. But that night, he couldn't concentrate on the landscape painting he was working on.

He was too keyed up about the urgent cable he'd received earlier that day about the six Americans who had escaped capture in Tehran and gone into hiding. Tony learned their names were Bob Anders, Mark and Cora Lijak, and Joe and Kathy Stafford. A sixth man named Lee Schatz had joined them a little later. He was the one who'd given himself the codename Palmtree over the radio.

He was too keyed up about the urgent cable he'd received earlier that day about the six Americans who had escaped capture in Tehran and gone into hiding. Tony learned their names were Bob Anders, Mark and Cora Lijak, and Joe and Kathy Stafford. A sixth man named Lee Schatz had joined them a little later. He was the one who'd given himself the codename Palmtree over the radio.

The group was being referred to by the code name, the House Guests, and they were currently hiding out at the Canadian embassy. The State Department wanted Tony to coordinate with the Canadians and plan a rescue as soon as possible. The House Guests were running out of time to get out of Tehran undetected.

The group was being referred to by the code name, the House Guests, and they were currently hiding out at the Canadian embassy. The State Department wanted Tony to coordinate with the Canadians and plan a rescue as soon as possible. The House Guests were running out of time to get out of Tehran undetected.

To make matters worse, a Canadian journalist had put the pieces together that a few embassy employees had escaped and wanted to run a story about it. The Canadian government asked him to hold off, but he said he wouldn't wait long. Tony went into the office early the next day to discuss the options for rescuing the houseguests. Some government higher-ups had already discussed one idea.