Review of On Wings of Eagles: The Inspiring True Story of One Man’s Patriotic Spirit–and His Heroic Mission to Save His Countrymen by Ken Follett Rating **** 1/2
This book tells the story of a rescue mission undertaken and funded by Texas businessman Ross Perot to free two of his employees wrongly held in an Iranian prison. The story takes place in 1978. The book was published in 1984.
I had heard of this rescue mission beforehand, but did not know the details. In my mind, it had been a daring rescue of two men held as hostages in Iran. The truth, while not as dramatic as I had envisioned, is still a compelling story.
The backdrop to this story begins with the declining popularity of the Shah of Iran. Ross Perot’s company, EDS, had been hired to set up a national benefits program similar to our social security system. The contract was worth millions. As things started to deteriorate in Iran, EDS decided to pull out of the country, not only because it was dangerous place but because they hadn’t been paid.
EDS started shutting down its operations and making plans to evacuate employees and their families. But two employees were taken into custody before they could get everyone out. Their passports were taken. Bail was set at an exorbitant 12 million dollars.
Ross Perot assembled a team of employees and former Vietnam vets to plan a rescue mission. The mission was only to be used as a backup. Ross tried a number of legal remedies, including reducing the bail and working with the State Department. He flew to Iran to get his people out of jail but to no avail.
The book covers the background of the employees, EDS and Ross Perot, and the geopolitical climate of the time. The story has plenty of suspense and conflict. There was also a great risk to Ross Perot, his business, and reputation should things not work out.
I won’t give away the ending, but one of the more implausible scenarios is what ended up happening. This story reminded me a lot of the book and film Argo. On Wings of Eagles was turned into a television miniseries starring Burt Lancaster and Richard Crenna.
It was only a few months later, after Perot’s men got out of Iran, that the Iran hostage ordeal that cost Jimmy Carter a second term happened.