The victims of the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 expected the US government to pay $ 4.4 million as promised, instead of dragging them into conflict.

David M. Roeder, 80, retired retired air force colonel, learned that the US embassy in the Middle East was attacked by protesters while watching TV at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, last week. "I said 'Oh, that's it again," recalls Roeder.

He was one of more than 50 Americans held hostage at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, in 1979 during a crisis that strained US-Iran relations over the past 40 years. "They burned and attacked the embassy. That's what I've seen," Roeder said.

The latest attack on the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, took place a few days before the US air killings of Iranian generals. Things have escalated tensions quickly in the area. President Trump then referred to the hostage crisis to warn Iran against retaliation. In a Twitter post, Mr. Trump said the US had targeted 52 locations in Iran, representing 52 Americans held hostage from 1979 to 1981.

At a time when many hostages still believed their stories were forgotten, Trump made them once again the focus of attention. Of the 53 hostages, including an early-released diplomat, 18 died. The remaining 35, now in retirement age, start new lives in the best way possible. However, the memory of 444 days in captivity is like a shadow clinging to their lives, even in a dream, when Iran has appeared on the news or in their struggle for compensation for decades. .

Some hostages took part in an unexpected interview when they were remembered but felt reluctant to be drawn into the current violent and risky political conflict. "I'm a bit unhappy because this is supposed to be our honor. I don't need this," said Al Golacinski, 69, a former security officer and now living in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. .

"We still live our lives but the people are living a little less. We don't want to get involved in this anymore," said Chuck Scott, 88, who led the task force at the time of the child crisis. believe, say.

"If the President is listening, I hope you don't mind our story, because I don't want to relate to it anymore," said John Limbert, who was once held hostage, in an interview on MSNBC. .

The Iran hostage crisis victim, who suffered physical and mental torture, spent many years fighting for compensation after being released, because the previously signed US-Iran agreement prevented them from doing so. The US Congress in 2015 passed a spending bill that would allow $ 4.4 million in compensation for each hostage, equivalent to $ 10,000 for a day of arrest, along with a one-off payment to their spouse or children. However, the US government only paid a small portion of the total compensation and the situation is more complicated when the family of victims of 9/11 terrorism also filed a claim from this fund.

Many hostages said they wanted the government to focus on the compensation they deserve, rather than dragging them into the current conflict. "Why doesn't the government continue to compensate us as promised?" Scott said.

V. Thomas Lankford, a lawyer in the city of Alexandria, Virginia and representing the hostages and their families, continues to fight for the remaining compensation. He said many hostages always felt anxious, insomnia and even wanted to commit suicide for years after being released.

"A hostage has died in the last two years. His wife told me that every night he was delirious and weeped and was startled in the middle of the night because he thought he was still in prison. Another hostage reluctantly accepted. help from agencies and organizations whenever Iran becomes the focus of the press. In any way, they continue to be victimized, "Lankford said.

Golacinski, who used to be blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to a mock execution during his arrest, said he was always monitoring the latest developments on the current stressful situation but did not want it to be tied to a child crisis. news in 1979.

"What happened in the past week has nothing to do with us. It's not something we have been waiting all the time to see someone killed, almost on our behalf. Absolutely not," Golacinski said. .

Roeder constantly follows recent news. He said President Trump's mention of them on Twitter was evidence that they were not completely forgotten. "I was surprised but also glad to know someone in the government admitted to remembering what happened to us," Roeder said.

Roeder fears that Iranians could get caught up in the conflict after the killing of General Qassim Soleimani. "Everyone seems to admit that he is a bad person. But the Iranian people are very vulnerable. I have been through the conflict and know what Iran and the families there have suffered. I don't think they are." We want to see that repeat, "said Roeder.

Thanh Tam