H.H. Prince Chafik (Shah’s Nephew) and SWC at Kharq Island in the Persian Gulf
I had just arrived at
ARMISH/MAAG Iran Tehran
The head of the Imperial Iranian Navy was Admiral Rassa'i .
This Chief of the Imperial Iranian Navy (IIN) was left over from the old bunch of admirals.
About a year before, in 1969, the Iranian Navy had maintained a post on an island in the Persian Gulf to operate a lighthouse and signal station, and to keep an eye on the sneaky Iraqis who might be coming down fromBasra on the
Shatt al Arab (EuphratesRiver).
The IIN routinely sent a landing craft out each month to the island to resupply the detachment, and to take replacements, etc.
The head of the Imperial Iranian Navy was Admiral Rassa'i .
This Chief of the Imperial Iranian Navy (IIN) was left over from the old bunch of admirals.
About a year before, in 1969, the Iranian Navy had maintained a post on an island in the Persian Gulf to operate a lighthouse and signal station, and to keep an eye on the sneaky Iraqis who might be coming down from
The IIN routinely sent a landing craft out each month to the island to resupply the detachment, and to take replacements, etc.
Watermen at Qeshm Island , Persian Gulf
However, one month they simply forgot
to go out to the island. Coupled with that, the men on the island had
failed to keep up the radio equipment, so they were pretty much stranded out
there. The next month the Navy forgot about them ... still... and so on
for several months.
These poor souls tried everything to get someone's attention, and they took to burning flares. The first ship to discover them was a Royal Navy destroyer. The RN contacted the British Embassy inTehran
These poor souls tried everything to get someone's attention, and they took to burning flares. The first ship to discover them was a Royal Navy destroyer. The RN contacted the British Embassy in
That was a clue. The Persians are very much into
appearances and “face”. In
1970—and today--- they think of themselves as adults in the world community,
worthy of respect of all.
However, they often did --- and still do--- things that make them look primitive in western eyes. Forgetting their naval detachment on a tiny island in the Persian Gulf was just such a screw-up. How they reacted to it shows how sensitive they were to being looked at with disfavor. Americans and others of the industrialized countries are quick to look askance at people in less developed countries, but I can tell you, after getting to know Persians, and staying in touch with them all these years later, they are wonderful, intelligent, and generous people. I personally think some of their leaders today are trying to take them back to an earlier century, but I am confident that regular Iranians will, one day soon, have enough of that.
I arrived after all this, all the admirals except Rassa'i were young men, who had recently been bright Lieutenant Commanders, fresh from training in theUK or
the US
However, they often did --- and still do--- things that make them look primitive in western eyes. Forgetting their naval detachment on a tiny island in the Persian Gulf was just such a screw-up. How they reacted to it shows how sensitive they were to being looked at with disfavor. Americans and others of the industrialized countries are quick to look askance at people in less developed countries, but I can tell you, after getting to know Persians, and staying in touch with them all these years later, they are wonderful, intelligent, and generous people. I personally think some of their leaders today are trying to take them back to an earlier century, but I am confident that regular Iranians will, one day soon, have enough of that.
I arrived after all this, all the admirals except Rassa'i were young men, who had recently been bright Lieutenant Commanders, fresh from training in the
That gave me a good idea of how the Shah handled
problems in his realm.
My first trip to the Persian
Gulf came a short time after this, and it was fascinating to see
the Shah's shiny new destroyers and hovercraft, along with the traditional Arab
dhows that have sailed in these waters for centuries.
Our escort on one trip around the Gulf was Prince Chafik, [H.H. Prince (Vala
Gohar) Shahriar Mustapha Chafik (1945-1979)] a nephew of the Shah, and a
Lieutenant Commander in the Imperial Iranian Navy. He was a dashing young
man—the son of Princess Ashraf, the Shah’s twin sister.
[Princess
Ashraf ul-Mulki Pahlavi (Persian: اشرف پهلوی) (born 26 October 1919), is the twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the late Shah of Iran and the Pahlavi Dynasty. She currently resides in Paris, France. Princess Ashraf is the oldest
living member of her family. She was instrumental in getting the Shah to
participate in the counter-coup that overthrew Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953.]
Chafik
was commander of all the Imperial Iranian Navy helicopters and hovercraft.
After the 1979 revolution he escaped to Paris
[NOTE:
This Blog was originally posted on April 28, 2011. This version includes recently
discovered old photo and some updating.]
[Updated again 03-31-13.]
[Updated again 03-31-13.]
Now—The Personal Navigator offers some books and papers….
Young’s Poetical
Works Title Page
Young: The Poetical Works of the Reverend Edward
Young, LL.D. Rector of Wellwyn in Hartfordshire, and Chaplain in ordinary to
His Majesty in Three Volumes, Volume the First 1755. 394 pp. 10.3 x 16.6
cm. Note: Only Volume I is present. Interesting collection of the poetry of
Edward Young (1681-1765): Epistle to Rt. Hon George Lord Lansdowne, 1712; A
Poem on the Last Day, in Three Books, (1713); The Force of Religion, Or,
Vanquished Love, in Two Books (1714); On the Death of Queen Anne, and the
Accession of King George, Inscr. to Joseph Addison, Esq. 1714; Epistles to Mr.
Pope, Concerning the Authors of the Age, 1730; A Paraphrase on Part of the Book
of Job, dedicated to Rt. Hon. Thomas Lord Parker; The Foreign Address
Occasioned by the British Fleet, and the Posture of Affairs 1734, Written in
the Character of a Sailor; Love of Fame, the Universal Passion, in Seven Characteristical
Satires (1728); The Installment to the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Walpole, 1726; Oratio Habita
Postero Die Cum jacta sunt Biliothecæ Fundamenta. Includes
Key to the Universal Passion (7 Satires). Calf on board, front board missing,
back board soiled with mold. Page 394, last page, missing top half. Poor.
(2445) $68.00. Poetry/Literature
King of
Otaheite
American
Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, May 1820, Vol. 2 No. 9 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts North Yarmouth . Extract of letter from Missionary College India Society Islands .
Report on efforts to Christianize American Indians of the Oneida
American
Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, September 1820, Vol. 2 No. 11 Boston , MA : Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts First Baptist Church in Boston Rangoon for Calcutta Burma
Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper:
American
Messenger, May 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 5 New
York , NY Baltimore Ireland
American Messenger,
June 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be
to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 6 New
York , NY China Troy , NY Paris March
30 by Great
Britain , Russia , Austria , Sardinia , Turkey , France , Prussia
Pressure and its Causes, Being the Old Fashioned Notions
of an Old Fashioned Man 1837
Boston, MA: Otis, Broaders & Co. 69 pp. 9 x 14.6 cm. "A Parabolic
Phrenological Scheme of National Character." Uncle Sam's majority has not belied the
flattering indications of his infancy. He is proud now, of his paternity, and
in the same breath that he berates Father Bull (England Durham
N.H.
American
Messenger, April 1857; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 15. No. 4 New
York , NY Crimea . The Rev. Dr. Eli Smith died Jan. 11 in Beyrout ,Syria
American
Messenger, June 1858; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 16. No. 6 New
York , NY United States Russia Sandwich
islands in 1857 has
made two important cruises. Newspaper, very
good. (5372) $20.00. Religious/History
Andrew
Peabody
Andrew P.
Peabody: Three Sermons preached at the South Church , Portsmouth ,NH December 25, 1859 and January 15, 1860 by Peabody,
Andrew P., D.D. 1860Portsmouth, NH: James F. Shores South Church
Hosea
Ballou
Ballou's
Sermons: Select Sermons Delivered on Various Occasions from Important Passages
of Scripture by Hosea Ballou, Pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Boston 1844 Boston , MA
Our Woman Workers; Biographical Sketches of Women Eminent in the Universalist Church
for Literary, Philanthropic and Christian Work by Hanson, E.R. 1882 Chicago , IL
thnx for this post
ReplyDelete