A Marine remembers Tehran
Many Americans remember the Iranian Revolution in 1979 for the storming of the US embassy and the hostage crisis that followed. That, however, was not the first time the embassy in Tehran was breached by protesters. The first time was on Valentine’s Day in 1979. Marco Werman speaks with Ken Kraus, a sergeant in the Marine detachment protecting the embassy that day, about what he witnessed.
Many Americans remember the Iranian Revolution in 1979 for the storming of the US embassy and the hostage crisis that followed. That, however, was not the first time the embassy in Tehran was breached by protesters. The first time was on Valentine’s Day in 1979.
The current government of Iran was born out of the violence and confusion that was playing out 40 years ago. Loyalists from the old regime of the Shah were refusing to go down without a fight. Marxist revolutionaries competed with the Islamists for leverage.
The staff at the US embassy watched nervously as the chaos swirled through Tehran.
Then, one day, it happened. Iranian revolutionaries scrambled over the wall of the embassy compound.
Ken Kraus was a sergeant in the Marine detachment protecting the embassy. He speaks to The World’s Marco Werman about what he witnessed that day.
Listen to Ken Kraus’ full interview with The World above.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.