Bruce Laingen
Lowell Bruce Laingen (born August 6, 1922) was the senior American official held hostage during the Iran hostage crisis.
Biography
Laingen, born on a farm in southern Minnesota, graduated from St. Olaf College. He also studied at the National War College, and received a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Minnesota. During World War II Laingen served in the US Navy, and in 1949 he joined the US Foreign Service. He served until 1977 at posts in Germany, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and then was appointed ambassador to Malta in 1977.
Laingen was then sent back to Iran as the US chargé d'affaires, but within months of his arrival, the US embassy was overrun by student protesters. Mrs. Laingen tied a yellow ribbon about the oak at their home. [1] He, along with two other American officials, were at the Iranian Foreign Ministry at the time of the assault. They were held for the next 14 months.
After his ordeal, Laingen was awarded the State Department's Award for Valor along with several other recognitions. The Library Of Congress holds his correspondence [2] with Joel Hettger in their manuscript division.
Laingen's next position was that of Vice President of the National Defense University, a post traditionally held by a senior diplomat. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1987.
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