Victor L. Tomseth | |
|---|---|
 Victor and Wallapa Tomseth, 2012 | |
| Born | (1941-04-14)April 14, 1941 (age 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Children | Christopher, Aranya |
Victor L. Tomseth (born April 14, 1941) is a former American diplomat and U.S.Ambassador (1993–1996) toLaos. He wasDeputy Chief of Mission inTehran, Iran and was among theAmericans taken hostage by the Iranians from 1979 to 1981.
Tomseth was born in Eugene, Oregon, the son of Hersey F. and Lyla I. (Currant) Tomseth. He is married to Wallapa Charoenrath, born inThailand, and the couple have two children. He graduated from theUniversity of Oregon in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in history and received a master's degree in history from theUniversity of Michigan in 1966. He also attendedCornell University in 1973. Tomseth was aPeace Corps volunteer inNepal in 1964–1965.[1]
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Tomseth was employed by the U.S.Department of State from 1966 until 1996. He served abroad in Thailand, Iran,Sri Lanka, and Laos. He was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Laos in November 1993 and served until August 1996.[2]
Tomseth served as American Consul inShiraz, Iran from 1976 to 1979 and was Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Iran when the American employees of the Embassy were taken hostage by Iranian students on November 4, 1979. Tomseth, AmbassadorBruce Laingen, and Security Officer Mike Howland were at the IranianForeign Ministry when the students stormed the Embassy. They were held under house arrest in the Foreign Ministry for the duration of the crisis. At first they were treated as diplomats and were able to have some contact with Washington and the outside world. Later, their treatment deteriorated and they were locked in their living spaces.[3]
During the early days of their incarceration, Tomseth talked on the telephone to his Thai cook in Tehran, Somchai Sriweawnetr. SpeakingThai, which his Iranian captors did not understand, Tomseth requested that Somchai hide five Americans who had escaped the Embassy.[4] Somchai arranged for the Americans to be sheltered in the Canadian Embassy and in what was called theCanadian Caper the five plus one additional American diplomat were helped by the Canadians to escape the country on January 27, 1980.[5] This incident was later dramatized in the movieArgo.[6]
Tomseth retired from the Department of State in September 1996.[7] From 1998 to 2000 he was employed with the rank of Ambassador by theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe serving as Deputy Head of Mission forCroatia and the Chief of a Task Force for Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation Teams (REACT). In 2001 he became an independent consultant contracted byBooz Allen Hamilton to participate in military exercises with theUnited States Pacific Command headquarters.[citation needed]
