Hostages’ kin back attempt

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 8

Hostages’ kin back attempt

NZPA-Reuter

Houston

The families of 14 American hostages held in Iran have supported the rescue attempt which claimed eight lives, saying “every effort should continue to be made to secure the release of our unjustly held relatives.” Mrs Dorothea Morefield, wife of the American Con-sul-General, Mr Richard M. Morefield, read the statement after families Of 14 hostages met United States State Department officials yesterday in Houston, Texas. “We do not believe that an apology to Iran should be made for the attempt to rescue our family members,” the statement read. “We not only support the President’s decision in this attempt, but feel that every effort should continue to be made to secure the release pf our unjustly held relatives.

“We feel that the eight volunteers who so tragically died in this rescue attempt are true heroes. Our hearts go out to their families for the sacrifice they have made for their fellow Americans.”

Mrs Barbara Timm, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in Teheran to visit her hostage son, Kevin Hermening, aged 20, had earlier told Iranians she deeply regretted the United States rescue effort. Mr Ernest Cooke of Memphis, Tennesse, whose son, Donald, was among those taken hostage when the United States embassy in Teheran was stormed by militants on November 4, said the statement was prep- red after the families had received word of Mrs Timm’s apology. The meetings in Houston were the second in a series of briefings held regionally for the hostage families, and were scheduled before the failure of the rescue attempt. Mr Cooke said there was some disagreement among the families about the abortive rescue attempts. “You’ve got hawks and doves,” he said. “There are family members who think we should have sent in the marines on November 5 — and others who thinks it’s the worst possible thing to do.”