Victor L. Tomseth
Victor L. Tomseth | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Diplomat |
Children | Christopher, Aranya |
Victor L. Tomseth (born April 14, 1941) is a former American diplomat and U.S.
Early life and education
Tomseth was born in Eugene, Oregon, the son of Hersey F. and Lyla I. (Currant) Tomseth. He is married to Wallapa Charoenrath, born in Thailand, and the couple have two children. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in history and received a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan in 1966. He also attended Cornell University in 1973. Tomseth was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal in 1964–1965.[1]
Department of State
Tomseth was employed by the U.S.
Hostage of the Iranians
Tomseth served as American Consul in
During the early days of their incarceration, Tomseth talked on the telephone to his Thai cook in Tehran, Somchai Sriweawnetr. Speaking Thai, which his Iranian captors did not understand, Tomseth requested that Somchai hide five Americans who had escaped the Embassy.[4] Somchai arranged for the Americans to be sheltered in the Canadian Embassy and in what was called the Canadian Caper the five plus one additional American diplomat were helped by the Canadians to escape the country on January 27, 1980.[5] This incident was later dramatized in the movie Argo.[6]
Later career
Tomseth retired from the Department of State in September 1996. From 1998 to 2000 he was employed with the rank of Ambassador by the
See also
References
- ^ The Biographic Registry of the Department of State. United States Department of State. 1974. p. 347.
- ^ "Office of the Historian, Department of State, https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/tomseth-victor-l, accessed 2 Nov 2017
- Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam, New York: Grove Press, pp. 151, 219, 372.
- ^ "Iran Embassy Cook Played Heroic Role in Aiding Hostages", The New York Times, July 17, 1983
- ^ Halton, David; Nash, Knowlton (January 29, 1980). "Canadian Caper helps Americans escape Tehran". The National. Toronto: CBC Archives. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
- ^ Killoran, Ellen (October 13, 2012). "'Argo' Review: Ben Affleck Pinches Himself In Stranger-Than-Fiction CIA Story". International Business Times. Retrieved 19 July 2021.