Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Check Out Today’s Hot Posts on TheBlaze Blog!

Entertainment

Canadian Diplomat Who Sheltered Americans in 1979 Iran Dies (And What Did His Wife Have to Say About ‘Argo’?)

Jan. 5, 2013 7:00pm
Canadian Diplomat Who Sheltered Americans During 1979 Iran Dies, Wife Discusses Argo

This Jan. 27, 1981 photo shows John Sheardown in Ottawa, Ontario. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — John Sheardown, a former Canadian diplomat who sheltered fugitive American Embassy staffers at his Tehran home at great personal risk during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, has died. He was 88.

His wife Zena said Saturday that Sheardown passed away in an Ottawa hospital on Dec. 30, but has now spoken with the Associated Press about her husband’s life and accomplishments.

Sheardown, the First Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Tehran at the time of the Islamic Revolution, played a key role in the events depicted in Ben Affleck’s Oscar-contender film “Argo” — although he was not portrayed in the film.

Almost a week after militant Iranian radicals seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days in retaliation for U.S. support for the recently deposed shah, the Canadian diplomat received a call from one of the six Americans who had managed to evade capture. American consular officer Robert Anders was calling his friend Sheardown for help.

“`What [took] you so long?’” was Sheardown’s reply, said his wife Zena.

After that phone call, the Sheardowns agreed without hesitation to shelter four of the six Americans in secrecy in their 20-room house in Tehran. Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor, housed the other two Americans.

“It would have been selfish for us not to do so,” Zena Sheardown told The Associated Press from her current home in Ottawa, Ontario. “There weren’t many places to hide in Iran, we had the room, they needed our help and it was just not in John’s nature to refuse help to anyone.”

For 79 days, the pair lived a low-profile life in tumultuous Tehran, facilitating a household that was comfortable and welcoming for the Americans, while helicopters streamed overhead, everyone’s nerves calmed only by boisterous dinners together and heartfelt hospitality.

“We have a lot of fond memories. We spent American Thanksgiving together, New Year’s Eve, together. Every night we would all sit around for dinner together. There was a lot of humor and laughter. It was a nice time to have to spend together,” she said. “We tried to be protective, but we also went out of our way to make them feel as if they weren’t imposing on us.”

Canadian Diplomat Who Sheltered Americans During 1979 Iran Dies, Wife Discusses Argo

In this Oct. 26, 2012 photo, Mark Lijek, left, and his wife, Cora Amburn-Lijek, of Anacortes, Wash. pose with a framed set of director’s chair backs from a visit to the set of the movie “Argo,” which is based on events they lived through in Iran for more than two months in 1979-80. (Photo: AP)

She said her husband became the father figure of the household, whom everyone would turn to for advice when they went through moments of fear.

“He kind of became our leader and since he was a pipe smoker and had more of a mature nature, he became known as `Big Daddy,’ everyone would wait for Big Daddy to come home,” she said chuckling.

While Sheardown might be best known for his role in what became known as the “Canadian Caper,” he was noticeably absent from “Argo,” which told the story of how the CIA used a fake film crew to rescue the six U.S. Embassy staffers sheltered by the Canadians. Affleck has apologized for leaving Sheardown out of the film, which he said was the result of time constraints and plot developments.

“It was frustrating,” said Zena Sheardown. “It would have been nice if the story was told correctly because basically, if the Canadians weren’t there to help, who knows what would have happened to those Americans.”

In a story posted in October on the Slate magazine website, one of the American diplomats, Mark Lijek, said Sheardown’s role was “indispensable.”

“Without his enthusiastic welcome we might have tried to survive on our own a few more days. We would have failed, said Lijek.

Sheardown was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his role in the rescue. His wife later also received the award for her role.

Born in Sandwich, Ontario, later absorbed by Windsor, on Oct. 11, 1924, John Vernon Sheardown joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 18. He flew scores of Lancaster bomber missions in World War II. On one mission, he barely managed to get his flak-riddled plane back to Britain. With the Lancaster losing power, he told his crew to bail out. He tried to wrestle the aircraft under control before opting to leap at the last minute. His chute barely had time to open and he broke both legs upon impact.

“I often thought he had nine lives with the way he lived his life,” his wife said.

He stayed in the Canadian Armed Forces after the war, serving in Korea, before joining Canada’s immigration service around 1962. He was posted in London, Glasgow, New Delhi and Los Angeles, during his extensive 27-year diplomatic career.

“He was a proud, dignified man, proud to serve his country, a dedicated foreign services officer and well-respected by all,” his wife said.

It was that dignified air that caught the eye of his future wife when she first spotted him in the Canadian High Commission in London, England.

“He looked like an English gentleman, he was smoking a pipe, very dapper,” she said, with warmth in her voice.

She asked a friend who that was and her friend’s replied: “That’s John Sheardown, the kindest man I’ve ever known. If he was down to his last penny and he thought you needed it, he would give it to you.”

The two were married in Los Angeles in 1975.

Besides his wife, Sheardown is survived by his sons, Robin and John; his sisters, Jean Fitzsimmons and Betty Ann Whitehead; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Comments (47)

1 2
  • AbrahamsSheepdog
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:51am

    Thank you sir and ma’am for your courageous Honor & commitment. May the Father hold you in His arms. Ben and Matt aren’t even men compared to you. Muppet tough guys, able to lie, read lines, and deceive. They are twisting the truth, oldest trick in book. To think these mentally ill are everywhere. Just look for the cameras.

    Report this comment

    AbrahamsSheepdog  
  • peteto1
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:21am

    Obviously, Mr. Sheardown is an American (Canadian, actually) HERO and Ben Affleck is not. Both Affleck and Matt Damon were raised in “moonbat”-level liberlalism of Cambridge, Massachusetts and consistently support far-left causes that portray America as world bullies/polluters/plutocrats. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Sheardown for your incredibly brave, humanitarian actions during the Iranian hostage situation……

    Report this comment

    peteto1  
    • AJBrad
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 8:36am

      well said Pete

      Report this comment

      AJBrad  
    • 65Mustang
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 9:52am

      Agree with everything you posted, too bad that our government has sniveling, lying low-life’s at the helm. I will not spend money to watch any movie that Matt and his pal, Ben Afflect are associated with.

      Report this comment

      65Mustang  
    • HuskerDave
      Posted on January 7, 2013 at 12:17pm

      Yep. Agree.

      Report this comment

      HuskerDave  
  • asybot12
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:03am

    Thanks again Mr. Sheardown and Mr. Taylor and your partners and the rest of ALL the Canadian
    diplomats in Iran and Canada involved at that time for what you did on behalf of our allies. We know you would have done the same for anyone else in the same predicament. Even after all these years you still make our hearts pound with pride !!

    Report this comment

    asybot12  
  • beverlee
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:03am

    It just didn’t fit into the Hollywood agenda.

    Report this comment

    beverlee  
  • Parnell3rd
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 11:57pm

    I will not watch any movies with Ben Afflack or his **** buddy Matt Damon!

    Report this comment

    Parnell3rd  
  • BlessedONE333
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 10:27pm

    HOLLYWOOD illuminati pictures got the story wrong? no way! lol

    if anyone wants to see a KGB SPY explain why there is a communist in the whitehouse, and communists at every level of government – then watch this

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gnpCqsXE8g

    Yuri Bezmenov (alias Tomas Schuman), a Soviet KGB defector, explains in detail his scheme for the KGB process of subversion and takeover of target societies at a lecture in Los Angeles, 1983.

    sadly everything he said the KGB plan was, has happened to the letter

    Report this comment

    BlessedONE333  
    • michaelmoron
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 10:56pm

      michaelmoron
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 5:36am
      @YAHSHUARULES

      Glad to see you have finally awakened.

      Yuri Bezmenov was warning us of this 30 years before your film, but no one listened.

      It is called Ideological Subversion.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ZQbJHagx4

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Time to wake these people up, brother.

      But I fear that it may be too late, and only about 5% of the people are cognisant.

      Report this comment

      michaelmoron  
    • BehindBlueEyes
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 9:26am

      Thanks for the video links.
      That’s exactly what is going on. We have a man in the WH who has been trained in communism all his life. In fact his teenage mentor was a card carrying communist American named Frank Marshall Davis. Frank may well be Obama’s real father.
      America has elected a full blow commie as president and he is following the communist playbook to the letter.
      My question is – When will it occur and what is the major “crises” that results in normalization?

      Report this comment

      BehindBlueEyes  
  • michaelmoron
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:52pm

    Here is a quick summary as to why IRAN hated us.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzS5Y1f8zVM

    Report this comment

    michaelmoron  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:35pm

    Way to go Affleck, you loser.

    Report this comment

    GoodStuff  
    • Keatonc33
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 11:26pm

      Why is Affleck a loser? at least he told the story! what have conservative film makers been up to lately?

      Report this comment

      Keatonc33  
  • TROONORTH
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:14pm

    We Canadians are justifiably proud of Ambassador Ken Taylor, John Sheardown and all the embassy staff. We don’t put a lot of stock in the produce of Hollywood for historical accuracy. It is enough that Americans know that when the chips are down. Canada stands with you.

    I remember being stopped , while traveling to Florida just days after the rescue, and thanked numerous times by Americans at every gas stop and burger place we visited. I remember feeling embarrassed by all the attention, like I personally had anything to do with it. So after all these years – “You’re welcome.”

    Report this comment

    TROONORTH  
  • denkat56
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:05pm

    Rest in peace. How much money was given to Hollywood this last fiscal check, 450 million. Don’t expect Hollywood to ever tell the truth. They haven’t made a movie that hasn’t been a remake, in years. CGI is the the thing that’s saving Hollywood.

    Report this comment

    denkat56  
  • bava
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 8:52pm

    Last week Canada was ” America’s hat” quoting someone here. Now, you like them. Last week they were all socialists with national health care. Today, suddenly, you like them? I only come here for the laughts. Thank you.

    Report this comment

    bava  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:20pm

      BAVA, Yes, you have eyes that see only some of the big picture. Yes, there are some who post here that have complained about Canada and Canadians in general. But, what you are not able to catch, is that there are many who do not feel that way. Yeah, while I wish Canada would take Jennifer Granholm back, I still love Canada. Used to drive up into Canada when I was stationed at Ft Drum, NY, and have even driven to Montreal for the restaurants. Have worked with Canadian troops both in the U.S. and Europe, as well as have also met plenty of Canadian tourists when I lived in Florida. The only Canadians that have a problem with are the liberal variety who show up here. That goes the American variety too.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
    • crackerone
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 10:27pm

      @Rjjingadsden

      You forgot the French Canadians who wear their speedo/thong thingy’s on St. Pete beach.

      Report this comment

      crackerone  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on January 7, 2013 at 11:55am

      BAVA

      You have to understand. We love the Canadians even when they tick us off. Visit Canada on Rememberance Day. The US used to be like that.

      Report this comment

      Dismayed Veteran  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 8:35pm

    Our position as a people in the world slipped dramatically after the babyboomers came of age and emboldened our enemies foreign and domestic. The Carter years fueled the fire and then a decade of dramatic shift in American power abroad came through the glorious Reagan years. We still had much damage to repair and frankly was too much to overcome, they knew all they had to do was wait out Reagan/Bush and another era would emerge where they could continue their dasterdly work of dismantling the USA.

    The Clinton years saw too this all to well, so much so it brought us 911. It just happened under Bush II but the plan was well underway for many years prior to his reign. Now the real dismantling has begun over the course of the past four years.

    This time there is no coming back! This time we are on the ropes and our own people are handing over our nation to our enemies all in the name of being citizens of the world. Hey man, its cool, we’re all the same man….right?

    Report this comment

    ChiefGeorge  
    • dublinthewagons
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 9:27pm

      We are old & tired. We must make one more push.
      It is not cool and the world is not the same man. The useful rebelious idiots will see when its too late.
      Oh to see the look on their faces then.

      Report this comment

      dublinthewagons  
  • retiredfire
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 8:23pm

    John and Zeena were my next door neighbors in the early 70′s. He was a wonderful man and my father and he had lot of fun together during the India/Pakistan war – we were stationed in New Delhi at the time.
    When I heard of his role in the Canadian Caper, I was not the least bit surprised, he was that kind of man.
    RIP John, and my condolences to Zeena and his son Rob, who also visited while John was in Delhi.

    Report this comment

    retiredfire  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 8:09pm

    My uncle was one of the two last people out of Iran. He was in charge of commissaries and put over $10,000 in a paper bag, covered it with his dirty underwear, so the muslims would not touch it and look under and got out by the skin of his teeth. As for Mr. Sheardown, RIP.
    Not surprised Affleck would not get the facts right.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • ApostolicIlx
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:53pm

    My Professor from University of Maryland, University Campus, was one of those rescued by this couple. He told a story of courage and tenacity to our Shakespeare Class in Heerlen, Nl. I was stationed with NATO at the time and the story was common knowledge among the intel community. Nice to know that some people get credit eventually. Fair winds and following seas to you Mr. Sheardown.

    Report this comment

    ApostolicIlx  
  • CulperGang
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:48pm

    RIPand thank you for your service to humanity.

    Report this comment

    CulperGang  
  • Micmac
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:43pm

    Name one person in our current administration who could be equally compared to this gentleman.

    Report this comment

    Micmac  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:36pm

    The Greatest Generation. Those men on the bombing runs in ww2 were some of the best. When I read Citizen Soldiers by Stephen E. Ambrose I remember one of them saying ” the flak was so thick even the auto-pilots were bailing out”. This man was a hero on many levels.

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:20pm

    In May 1981 The Canadians from Lahr, Germany had training priority in Hohenfels, Germany. With them was the Canadian 4th MP Platoon along with elements from the 1st MP Platoon direct from Canada. Their Platoon is comparable to our Army’s company. I had the pleasure of meeting the then MP SGT who as a Master Corporal in Iran worked out the details, then helped these Americans escape from the embassy. I feel stupid at the moment for not being able to remember his name, but can clearly picture him in my mind. Wouldn’t list his name here anyway.

    Report this comment

    RJJinGadsden  
  • CatB
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:18pm

    God bless this man and his family .. too bad Hollywood (Ben) left him out .. if not for this man and others who risked their lives before the others could even try to rescue them seems like a great injustice (or typical Hollywood) R.I.P. Mr. Sheardown.

    Report this comment

    CatB  
  • barber2
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:18pm

    Ah, Hollywood. Remaking history due to ” time constraints.” Sort of reminds one of the MSM today who “remakes” the reality of the Obama Administration ….

    Report this comment

    barber2  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:31pm

      You are exactly correct .. they are “changing history” .. just like M.O. said before the first election.

      Report this comment

      CatB  
  • rochrealtor
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:15pm

    Oh and God bless the Canadians!

    Report this comment

    rochrealtor  
  • rochrealtor
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:14pm

    Mrs Sheardown, God bless you and your husband for your courage. We true Americans thank you. Don’t worry about Hollywood they never have gotten anything right anyway. Plus Americans won’t support the film or the Hollywood (liberal) garbage that produce it.

    Report this comment

    rochrealtor  
  • Newtowns-Third-Law
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:13pm

    Going to see this amazing movie was one of the best things I did in 2012. It brought me right back to the time and place. If you have not seen ARGO yet, it will be much cheaper now – before it wins a bunch of Academy awards in the next session. God Bless the United States Intelligence Community and the CIA.

    Report this comment

    Newtowns-Third-Law  
  • gyro
    Posted on January 5, 2013 at 7:11pm

    Canadians are good people :)

    Report this comment

    gyro  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love