Foreign Service officer recalls
infamous Valentine's Day '79 in Tehran

By George McKinney

Valentine’s Day brings back memories for all of us — the sweethearts we gave flowers to or chocolate candy or kind words to our mothers.

Valentine’s Day for me awakes the memories of being taken hostage in Tehran that very day. We at the American Embassy in Tehran nicknamed it the "Valentine's Day Massacre."

At about 10 a.m., Feb. 14, 1979, three vehicles pulled up at strategic locations around the embassy compound and opened fire with machine guns. Iranian fanatics under the Ayatollah Khomeni were attacking our embassy with the intent to close it and do serious bodily harm to the occupants, American and Iranian employees. Our Marine detachment was able to return fire and hold them off for about three hours, but were outnumbered and outgunned.

I was caught under heavy gunfire while setting up a "secure" telephone system in the embassy administrator's office on the first floor of the embassy. Through the grace of God, I was able to get upstairs to my own office, located in our communications vault, which I was in charge of. My staff were already in the process of destroying sensitive equipment and classified documents under the direction of my deputy communications officer. During this same time frame, as many employees as possible were making it to the vault, which was also the embassy's "safe haven" location.

Numerous firefights were taking place throughout the embassy at this time, as the Iranians had successfully gotten onto our compound. Some of our Marines were wounded, some were captured and taken away, and some people suffered the ultimate — death…

As our ambassador was doing what he could to assure the safety for as many as possible, there was no doubt we were going to have to surrender the embassy.

He yelled to me, "How much more time do you need?" (to destroy necessary equipment and documents).

I told him, "Thirty more minutes," but because of the atrocities taking place and to save as many lives as possible, we didn't get that 30 minutes.

[to top of second column in this section]

At that time, I was on one of our HF radio systems informing our embassy in Kuwait that we were under attack, surrendering the embassy and for them to inform the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The ambassador swung open the vault door and the Iranians busted in, saw me on the radio and bashed me in the head with an AK-47. As I got hit, I spun the dial on the radio so they would not know our radio frequency.

When I regained consciousness, armed Iranians were everywhere and were in the process of removing us from the vault. As they removed us, they body-searched us and forcefully took us to a large area to physically control us. They had us get on our knees with our hands behind our heads. We were held there for some time and physically abused at their whim.

We were later removed to the outside of the embassy and placed in front of a machine gun that had been set up. Many things took place at this time that I won't go into, but the international press (numerous) showed up, and that most likely saved our lives. I had been injured earlier, besides being hit in the head and again beaten when taken outside of the embassy. We were later taken to the ambassador's residence, located on the compound.

Some employees were released during the next days and weeks, but I did not leave until all of my staff were safe and accounted for and also safely gotten out of Tehran.

This was not my first encounter with terrorism, as I had been kidnapped in Fort Lamy, Tchad, in 1968. I believe my prior experience in the Marines, having served in unstable countries prior to being assigned to Iran, most likely prepared me for what took place.

Of course, not learning from these experiences, I continued to volunteer for the trouble spots around the world during the rest of my career in the Foreign Service.

It is one Valentine’s Day I will never forget.

[George A. McKinney, Pharr, Texas]

(2-15-01)

Tom Renner writes in

As a native Logan County resident, after high school in Mount Pulaski I went to the Navy in 1956. After getting out of the Navy in 1960, I moved to Southern California and spent most of 17 years working as a construction welder working out of the Boilermakers Union. Got tired of looking through a dark lens, so went to driving a truck cross-country for KLM out of Jackson, Miss., but now retired and living in Sun City, Ariz., enjoying the heat and the fishing.

So if any of the old bunch are still around, get in touch. I hear from George McKinney from time to time (alias Buster). I am sure he will like that.

All three of my girls live in Lincoln. Oldest is a nurse; No. 2 works in a factory in Lincoln; No. 3 — don’t know what she is doing.

Godspeed to all of my old classmates in Mount Pulaski, and live long and prosperous.

To contact me send e-mail to renner1@juno.com.

Tom Renner

(2-6-01)

 Franz writes home

Although I have visited the Daily News several times, this was my first time in this section — really like it. Like many others have said, this column is a good place to get in touch and find friends you have not seen or heard from for years.

I am Wayne Franz:

—Graduated from LCHS in 1956 and left almost immediately for a career in the United States Air Force — almost 22 years, and [I’ve] seen a good part of the sphere we live on.

—Retired from the service in 1979 and settled in the Great Northwest — Everett, Wash., to be exact.

—Joined the Boeing company and, as part of the AOG (Airplane on Ground) team, managed to see quite a bit more.

—Retired from Boeing this past August.

—Married a wonderful California woman 42 years ago; have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Have not been back to Lincoln as often as I probably should have, but do think of it often. We are planning a visit this coming summer. Still have sisters in Atlanta and Springfield and a brother in Charleston. I have many fond memories of Lincoln.

I can be found at wefranz@aol.com.

(1-2-01)

Greg Schriber hopes to find old friends from Lincoln

Hello, Lincoln:

I live in Liberty, Mo., just north of Kansas City. I left Lincoln around 1984 and spent some time in Montana and now here. I miss Lincoln at times and hope to find some of my old friends from there. I keep in touch with only one to date. This website is the first link I have had with Lincoln other than my family and I appreciate it.

Greg Schriber

gregschriber@hotmail.com 

(9-12-00)

Nancy Eichelberger still gets homesick for the Lincoln area

I graduated from L.C.H.S. in 1956 and would love to hear from some classmates.

We have been gone from the Lincoln area for over 20 years. I still get homesick even after so many years. I lived in Lincoln for eight years and then moved to a small town (Emden), where we lived for the next 22 years. We lived in Clearwater for 16 years and moved to Odessa Fla., which is really northwestern Tampa several years ago, as we wanted to be in the country again.

Both my husband, Wayne, and I are farm people and my parents lived in Lincoln until their deaths. The city was fine for a while but as they say, you can take us out of the country but you can't take the country out of us. We have over an acre of land here and really like living where we can hear the birds and see the horses and llamas daily. Yes, I did say llamas, our neighbor has six of them and they are beautiful.

It would be nice to hear from people that I used to know.

Nancy (Hatfield) Eichelberger

ike3@aol.com 

(7-7-00)

Hello everyone in Lincoln/Logan County.

Len and I have lived in Henderson, Nev., for 16 years now and get back to Lincoln quite often, but I check the LDN every day to see what's happening. I was thrilled when my sister, Lana Miller, told me about this.

We used to co-own Landauer's in Lincoln. I sell real estate in the Las Vegas valley, and Len is sales manager for a ready-mix concrete company. Our son, Chad, is married with one daughter and expecting a son in November. He and his wife, Sandee, work for Southwest Airlines here in Las Vegas.

We attend Central Christian Church, where Gene Appel, former Lincolnite, is senior pastor. We just moved into a brand new church building that seats approximately 3000 people.

I would like to see more letters from people who have moved away from Lincoln/Logan County, so let's hear from you.

Rita Remmert

RitaRemm@aol.com 

(7-13-00)

Needs copy of local birth certificate

I was born in Lincoln but moved away quite a few years ago. I recently moved and can not seem to locate my birth certificate. I am going on a trip to Canada in a week and would like to have my certificate. Can you tell me who I should contact about getting this? Thanks!

Philip Gehlbach

 - - - - - - - - -

Philip,

You can get that information from the county clerk's office, (217)732-4148.

Jan Youngquist

(6-15-00)

As a person who is lucky enough to call Lincoln my hometown, I just wanted to say what a great Web site you have.

I am a resident of Lincoln not currently living there, because of my job. I'm serving on active duty with the Army at Fort Campbell, Ky.

I was born and raised in Lincoln, and have come to appreciate just what kind of community I come from. Lincoln isn't the biggest town I've lived in, and actually I guess it's about the smallest town I've lived in. Both of my parents, Roger and Connie Boss, and for that matter most of my immediate family, still live in Lincoln.

My mom routinely clips out sections of the Courier and sends them to me so I can keep up on what's going on back home. Recently they showed your Web site to me, and Mom, I think you can retire the scissors. It's great that I can just pull it up on the Web and see what my friends and family are doing, no matter if I'm in Korea or Kentucky.

You have a good thing going here. It helps all of us out here from feeling so homesick when we can't go take a walk around the courthouse square or down Broadway to the Depot.

Thanks again for a great Web site, and keep up the good work...

Sgt. Brad Boss

(7-6-00)

Brad Dye would like to communicate with classmates

Hello, my name is Brad Dye and I graduated from LCHS in 1960. I attended the old high school, near downtown, for two years and then the new high school at the edge of town when it opened.

I have hardly been back to Lincoln since I graduated. My parents moved to Decatur and I went off to see the world. So far, that desire to see the world has taken me to about 55 countries. I often think of Lincoln and wonder what has happened to my old friends in the last 40 years.

I live in Dallas now and work for a radio paging company, which will be no surprise to those who remember me as an avid ham radio operator.

My sister Pam, who lives in Miami Beach, and I are both wondering if there will be a class reunion this summer for the class of 1960? We would like to attend. If anyone knows about this (date, time, place, etc.), please let me know by e-mail to: braddye@directlink.net and to Pam at: pgoldfaden@aol.com. 

I would love to communicate by e-mail with any of my former classmates.

I have a homepage on the Internet at: http://braddye.com 

Best regards,

Brad Dye

(6-7-00)

I have fond memories of Lincoln as I was growing up...

The Lincoln Lakes was the place to go in the summer time.

I used to play basketball pickup games at the Central School outside courts. I couldn't believe the last time I was home in Lincoln…The drinking fountain is still by the basketball courts.

I can remember the racetracks and the A&W root beer stand.

Riggs Dairy was on Woodlawn Road…the old football field on Woodlawn…

The watermelon festival in the summertime... I was in my 30s when I found out that Lincoln used watermelon juice to christen the city with the name Lincoln. As a matter of fact, I am related to Abraham Lincoln, very distantly. My father (Warren Chandler), whose mother’s name was Edna Lincoln, was the connection.

The Logan County Fair, where, if you are by the beer tent, you might meet someone you haven't seen in a long time…

I also have fond memories of all my sporting endeavors at Lincoln Community High School (LCHS).

I still come back for my high school reunions

"Hi" to Sharon Webster and Tim Harmon … good friends.

I am glad that Lincoln has stayed about the same size. I live in San Antonio, Texas, and believe me, if I could, Lincoln would be the place for me.

James Chandler (Doc)

doc@texas.net

(6-7-00)

Where is everyone?

I am an avid reader of Lincoln Daily News. The reason for this is because I no longer live there, but was born and raised there, and it always remains in my mind. I am always looking to see something or someone I may remember from when I was there.

I really enjoy Diaspora, but not enough people are getting into it. I wish there was something I could do to raise that interest.

Come on Lincolnites, get on that computer and let us know what and how you are doing. (Go Railsplitters.)

Thank you,

George McKinney

Pharr, Texas

(5-11-00)

Brainard recalls Lincoln Skateland

Charles Brainard moved to Lincoln with his family when he was in sixth grade. He graduated from LCHS in 1979 and lived here until 1986.

He likes to remember the Indian summers and the skating rink, which his parents owned from 1972 to 1979. He thinks he misses the winter least and the summer most. "Compared to where I spend most summers, Lincoln’s weather is mild and wonderful," he says.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986 and has been stationed in Georgia, Germany, Korea and Arizona. He was deployed to the Iraq area for Desert Storm. "Each station and area has had its own beauty," he says, "but not one of them was home."

"I am still on active duty in the Army. My specialty is communications. I work as a satellite communications network engineer and all-around communications techie. I enjoy several veterans associations – especially the American Legion and the 3rd Armored Division veterans (Spearhead) association."

His local family members are his parents, Charles and Carol Brainard; his brother, David, who just bought a house in Lincoln; and a sister, Laurie Armstrong. "My folks still live there at the homestead," he says. "The rest of us have scattered across the nation." Linda Jamison, another sister, resides in Shirley, Ill., and his sister Susan Conver lives in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area.

In closing, he tells us, "Enjoy your freedom? Thank a veteran!"

(3-16-00)

Weindorf remembers Lincoln Lakes

Donald Weindorf lived in Logan County from 1934 to 1946 and then from 1957 to 1959.

Of his years in Lincoln he says, "I like to remember my friends, the Arcade soda fountain, the old Recreation Center, the Lincoln Lakes and much more."

"I was pretty much raised in Boys Town outside of Omaha," he explains. "I got an opportunity to run Omaha Magazine and so I returned to Omaha."

He now owns and operates a group home for 20 at-risk boys.

"I love the range of weather we have here, the marvelous steak houses, the museums and the outside recreational facilities," he says.

Weindorf still has relatives living in Lincoln and gets back for a short visit every few years.

You can contact Weindorf via e-mail at weindorf1@juno.com.

(3-16-00)

"Nothing compares with e-mail and Web pages" to keep friends in touch

I have lived in the Fort Myers, Fla., area for the last 14 years. I have tried to keep in touch by phone, mail, etc. with my friends in Illinois. Nothing compares with e-mail and Web pages to accomplish this! Many thanks to the people who started lincolndailynews.com. It is firmly placed in my favorite places and I check it every day.

Thanks again.

Bill Horn
Fort Myers, FL
Bill3567@aol.com 

(3-3-00)

LDN makes Germany closer to home 

We just heard about the lincolndailynews.com and are enjoying keeping up with latest. We are currently living in Germany and now we don't feel so far from home.

Tom and Kristy (Smith) Yarcho
Haupstuhl, Germany
tkksk6@bunt.com 

(2-16-00)

Lincoln remains close to her heart

Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay posted on the happenings in my hometown! I am currently living in the North Georgia mountains, but my children spend the summers in Lincoln visiting their grandparents, and they love to look at the pictures of places in Lincoln and stay familiar with their "summer surroundings" After viewing the message board that one other Lincoln site has, I think I will stick with lincolndailynews.com, where I can see the news that I want to see....how things are progressing, and the good that still comes from my little hometown. Keep up the good work! Lincoln may be 700 miles from my home, but is much closer to my heart!

Traycee Ritchhart-Pirkle

Traycee87@alltel.net  Traycee@americashomeplace.com

 (2-16-00)

[to second column of letters]

World traveler keeps up on Lincoln

Thank you for lincolndailynews.com. My name is Denise and I am living in the Port Charlotte, Fla., area. I am getting established in real estate here in Southwest Florida after moving to this area within the last year from the north of England.

I lived in Lincoln until I was 27 in 1983, before starting a world traveling lifestyle. Although living thousands of miles away (i.e., Texas, California, Australia, England) over the years, I have managed to return to see my family, friends, and just to see Lincoln every six months on average. Now that plans have it that visits will be less often, it is absolutely great to have lincolndailynews.com for that Lincoln connection.

My parents are down here for 'The Season." January to April. They are enjoying the benefits of the new lincolndailynews and the latitude of Florida, that of sun, warm, wildlife and the new pool construction going on in my back yard with the golf course view. Ya' all come down now! :o)

Now you won't miss out on any Lincoln area news either! I am so excited about lincolndailynews that I am starting a classified ad to help readers learn more about wintering in Florida.

Many thanks.

Denise Radcliffe Wood
Sunnybreeze, FL
e-mail: floridaliving@hotmail.com   

 (2-11-00)

Alabama resident likes Lincoln photos

Great Web page. My brother just sent me the link to the website so that I can keep up with the news from back home. I left Lincoln back in 1963 for the Air Force. I currently reside in Alabama but Lincoln is never far from my mind. I truly enjoyed seeing the pictures of the different places around town and what is going on. Keep up the good work.

dlowe@ispchannel.com  

Dale A. Lowe
Huntsville, AL

(2-8-00)

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