from http://www.answers.com/topic/iran-air-flight-655 While issuing notes of regret over the loss of human life, the U.S. government has to date not admitted any wrongdoing or responsibility in this tragedy, nor apologized, but continues to blame Iranian hostile actions for the incident. The men of the Vincennes were all awarded combat-action ribbons. Commander Lustig, the air-warfare coordinator, even won the navy's Commendation Medal for "heroic achievement," his "ability to maintain his poise and confidence under fire," enabled him to "quickly and precisely complete the firing procedure."[4] (http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5260/vince.html) According to The Washington Post, 30 April 1990, the Legion of Merit, the U.S. armed forces second highest award, was presented to Captain Rogers and Lieutenant Commander Lustig on July 3, 1988. The citations did not mention the downing of the Iran Air flight at all. <snip> On February 22, 1996 the United States agreed to pay Iran $61.8 million in compensation ($300,000 per wage earning victim, $150,000 per non wage earner) for the 248 Iranians killed in the shootdown. =>-----Original Message----- =>From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of =>Gerard M Foley =>Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 18:35 =>To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx =>Subject: Re: NW DC-10 makes emergency landing in Tehran => => =>----- Original Message ----- =>From: "Michael C. Berch" <mcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> => =>Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 7:31 PM => => =><snip> =>> =>> U.S. carriers do not serve Iran because of American economic sanctions. =>> Washington broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic =>Revolution =>> when militants seized the U.S. Embassy and held 52 hostages for =>444 days. =><snip> =>I don't know if the American practice of breaking relations and =>hardly ever =>reestablishing them started in the Wilson administration, but it sure is =>absurd in its general application. Cuba, of course, is the outstanding =>current example, but there is even less excuse for the break with Iran. => =>I have never been able to find out whether we have paid =>compensation to the =>relatives of the 300 people killed by our unprovoked and mistaken =>attack on =>an Iranian A300 by USS Vincennes or not. The Iranian hostage situation, =>although it helped elect Ronald Reagan, did relatively little harm to the =>hostages, and the diplomatic consequences should have long been =>terminated. => =>Gerry =>http://www.pbase.com/gfoley9999/ =>http://foley.ultinet.net/~gerry/aerial/aerial.html =>http://home.columbus.rr.com/gfoley =>http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/pollock/263/egypt/egypt.html =>-- =>No virus found in this incoming message. =>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. =>Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005 => -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005