Smiles to Somber via YouTube

[Robert Coats]

I was watching an ancient episode of American Bandstand on youtube today...it was from late April, 1980. I knew most of the songs, and even had some of the clothes. It was all a great nostalgia high, even the commercials. A little more than halfway through, and Dick Clark was interviewing The Spinners.

All of a sudden, the screen when dark and quiet, and then...."We interrupt this program to bring you this ABC News Special Report"

I hit pause.

Hmmm.....what do I remember from late April 1980? Then, ABC New reporter Tom Jarriel warned me the following images will be disturbing to some viewers.

He then rolled video from Iranian TV, showing the crash site and bodies of dead US servicemen killed in the aborted attempt to rescue the American hostages.

It had been 43 years since 19-year old me had seen that, and it was just as bad today as it was then. I want to say it was the single biggest daily lost-of-life of US forces since Vietnam. I would leave to head off to US Navy bootcamp 60 days later.

FYI, Tom is still with us (88), but retired from broadcasting in 2002.

[masraum]

Thanks for posting. I remember hearing about it and my parents watching it, but as a 10yo, it didn't really register with me. Dad was in the Navy at the time. I think we were stationed in Japan at the time.

[pwd72s]

Way my old memory kicks in...a sandstorm brough the choppers down?

[Robert Coats]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Way my old memory kicks in...a sandstorm brough the choppers down?

All the aircraft were taking on fuel in the desert, when, while in a hover, a helo accidentally flew into a C-130 transport aircraft. Here's a full write-up on the failed mission:

Operation Eagle Claw