- Richard Queen
Richard Ivan Queen (b.
1951 -August 14 ,2002 ) was born inWashington D.C. and worked for the U.S. State Department as Vice Consul at the U.S. Embassasy inTehran, Iran . OnNovember 4 ,1979 , he was among the 66 hostages taken by Islamic militants calling themselves theMuslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line ; an event commonly known as theIran Hostage Crisis .Richard Queen began to physically deteriorate fairly early during his confinement. While the hostage takers were aware of his ailment, the doctor they provided repeatedly misdiagnosed his ailment as a “Twisted Spine”. As his illness progressed and it became increasingly difficult for Mr. Queen to stand or walk, he was finally taken to a local hospital for a more thorough evaluation. The hostage takers determined that Mr. Queen’s illness required they release him. Richard Queen was later diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis . He was held hostage for 250 days and released onJuly 11 ,1980 . Thirteen hostages had been released onNovember 20 ,1979 (16 days). The remaining 52 hostages were released onJanuary 20 ,1981 (444 days).Richard Queen died on August 14, 2002 in
Falls Church City, Virginia due to complications frommultiple sclerosis .He was a graduate of
Hamilton College , class of 1973.External links
* [http://www.afsa.org/fsj/oct02/article4.pdf "Appreciation: Richard I. Queen, 1951-2002"] , Foreign Service Journal, October 2002, an obituary of Queen in five parts, by Ambassador Bruce Laingen (fellow hostage), Richard Morefield (foreign service officer and fellow hostage), John Limbert (Ambassador to Mauritania and fellow hostage), Ambassador Ruth A. Davis (Director General of the Foreign Service) and Colin L. Powell (U.S. Secretary of State).
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922077,00.html "A Hostage Comes Home"] , Time, July 28, 1980.
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6691783 Richard Queen] at Find-A-Grave
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