The Forgotten Iranian Sailors

The Persian Navy   

 Persian Gulf woman with camel

I had just arrived at ARMISH/MAAG Iran.  We were an Army Mission and a Military Advisory and Assistance Group in Tehran.  I was on the advisory staff for the Setade Bozorg, which means "Supreme  Staff" to His Imperial Majesty the Shah. It was 1970.

            The head of the Imperial Iranian Navy (IIN) was Admiral Rassa'i .

            This Chief of the 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 Basra on the Shatt al Arab (Euphrates River).

            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 in Tehran, and Ambassador Ramsbottom contacted the Shah.  It embarrassed the Shah greatly to have the British call attention to such sloppy performance, and so the Shah fired all his admirals-except for Rassa'i.

            That was a clue.  The Persians are very much into appearances and “face”.  In 1970, and even today, they think of themselves as adults in the world community, worthy of respect of all. The Shah was bringing the country into the international community, but still they had men who were more comfortable herding camels suddenly thrust into working on sophisticated jet airplanes.  

            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 in Iran after all this, all the admirals except Rassa'i were young men, who had recently been bright Lieutenant Commanders, fresh from training in the UK or the US.  They all spoke English, and were quite sharp looking.  They put on their admirals' uniforms, some got rid of their "old" wives, and acquired wives suitable to their new stations in life.

             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 Shaffiq, a nephew of the Shah, and a Lieutenant Commander in the Imperial Iranian Navy.  He was commander of all the helicopters and hovercraft.  After the 1979 revolution he escaped to Paris, and was gunned down shortly afterward by Iranian Islamic Republic agents.

 [Updated 03-31-13.]             

Now—I have some books and papers….

 Acts of the Apostles, The: with a Commentary, First Edition.by Rev. Abiel Abbot Livermore   1844 Boston, MA: James Munroe and Company. Livermore (1811-1892) was a Unitarian pastor in Keene, NH when he published this Commentary. Includes map of the Mediterranean Sea showing the travels and voyages of St. Paul, as well as a Calendar of Events during the first century of the Christian Era, and a Pronouncing Vocabulary. . 330 pp. + 24 pp. catalogue. 12 x 20 cm. Cloth on board with blindstamped design, cover moderately worn, faded with several small holes in cloth. Map of Mediterranean detached. Front free endpaper inscribed: "Amory Holman & Fanny Holman". Good. (5826) $48.00. Religious

  

King of Otaheite

American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, May 1820, Vol. 2 No. 9 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Memoir of Rev. Henry Jessey. Review of sermon delivered at the ordination of Rev. Stephen Chapin by Jeremiah Chaplin, Professor of Divinity in the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, at North Yarmouth. Extract of letter from Missionary College, Serampore by W. Ward. [Note: Ward was among founders of this College in India in 1818. It still exists in 2008.] College is open to all denominations of Christians, and to as many heathen scholars as choose to avail themselves of its exercises and lectures. Letter from Pomare, King of Otaheite, Society Islands. Report on efforts to Christianize American Indians of the Oneida and Stockbridge; letter signed with marks by Oneida Indians asking to embrace Christianity. 34 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6399) $34.00. Religious/Missionary

American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, September 1820, Vol. 2 No. 11 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Frontispiece engraving of Rev'd James Manning Winchell, A.M. late pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston. Memoir of the death of Mrs. Tamma Winchell, Rev. Winchell's widow. Tribute on death of Rev. Edward W. Wheelock, who, dying of consumption, left Rangoon for Calcutta, and died at sea. Letter from Mrs. Colman on the Burman Mission, mournfully relates last days of Rev. Wheelock. In letter to her sister she chides her for not answering for "nine long months" and goes on to tell her about revival of Buddhism in Burma, and building of pagodas.  32 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, edges frayed, page corners curled, poor. (6400) $34.00. Religious/Missionary

American Baptist Magazine and Missionary Intelligencer, January 1821, Vol. 3 No. 1 Boston, MA: Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts. Reflections on the New Year, 1821. Memoir of Rev. Andrew Fuller, Late Pastor of the Baptist Church and Society in Warren, Maine. Extracts from Mr. Judson's Journal--Burman Mission. Judson writes of traveling in Burmese rowing boat with ten rowmen to visit monarch in New Ava, or Ahmarapoor, 350 miles from Rangoon. Visit to Pagan. Disappointing audience with the emperor. They presented him an elaborately decorated Bible, which he flung to the ground. Necessity of Christianity to India; about the Hindoos; ritual of dying and the Ganges. Mr. Ward and the Mission at Serampoor. Missionary college at Serampoor will accept a Krishnu, a Sebuk-Ram, or a Ram-Mohun for 45 dollars a year. 40 pp. 15 x 24 cm. Paper periodical, edges frayed, page corners curled, fair. (6401) $34.00. Religious/Missionary

American Gift Book, The; Perpetual Souvenir 1856 New York, NY: Derby & Jackson, 119 Nassau St.  Introduced as "a volume so thoroughly American" includes many patriotic items by various authors, with much, much anti-Catholic writing, ridiculing Roman Catholicism.  Book dedicated to the sons and daughters of America. Frontispiece is engraving of Daniel Webster. Washington's Farewell Address; Poem, "The American Flag" by J.R. Drake; "America for the Americans"  --"We have had enough of 'Young Irelands' and 'Young Germanys'...We want none of his religious mummeries... his travail about the 'Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary'...".  "The Bible in Schools" by Hon. Joseph W. Savage urges that Bibles be returned to public schools, and relates opposition to this by the Catholics... schools do not teach blind and unquestioning obedience to the priesthood, do not inculcate the doctrines of Rome. "The Know Nothings"  by Dr. Thomas E. Bond. "This association has been got up to counteract the political influence of Romanism." Cloth on board, some foxing, blind-stamped design, minor fraying, gift inscription on title page. Publish date circled. Fair. (1303)  $29.00. Religious/Anti-Catholic

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: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Statistics on intemperate persons among the inmates of the Baltimore almshouse: 60%. Mr. John Sadlier, member of the Parliament from Ireland, has just committed suicide, after having been engaged in enormous frauds. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  very good. (5360) $20.00. Religious/History

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: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Report on desperate condition of women of China, by Rev. John C. Lord of Ningpo:  They are slaves. Story about a dog who saved a store from burning in Troy, NY. War in Europe is ended, Treaty signed in Paris March 30 by Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Sardinia, Turkey, France, Prussia. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  spinefold torn 24 cm,  good. (5361) $20.00. Religious/History

American Messenger, July 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 7 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Colporteurs among the Cherokees. Work of Grace among the Karens of Burmah. The Chinese Language and Dialects. Agent of American Bible Society in Turkey sees declining interest in Mohammedanism and increased interest in the Christian religion among Moslems. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  biopredation in horizontal fold, fair. (5362) $20.00. Religious/History

American Messenger, August 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 8 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Letter from a Slave--Thanks for  the American Messenger! Report of Mexicans in Metamoras (sic) who are willing to read. Progress in the North-west, among Romanists who have renounced Popery and then united with Protestant churches. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  very good. (5363) $20.00. Religious/History

American Messenger, September, 1856; "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Vol. 14. No. 9 New York, NY: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Story about lumbermen on the head waters of the Kennebec River in Maine, one who swore that God Almighty is not quick enough to kill me with a tree. The next day, while felling their first tree, a small branch was thrown with fatal  aim, as by the hand of the Almighty, and killed him. Story of brutal Indian swinging festivals honoring Shiva near Calcutta. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  top edge ragged. very good. (5364) $20.00. Religious/History

Florence Nightingale

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: The American Tract Society. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Florence Nightingale, her upbringing, and her service in the recent war in the Crimea. The Rev. Dr. Eli Smith died Jan. 11 in Beyrout, Syria, aged 55. His work was in translating, preparing and issuing a Bible in Arabic. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Newspaper,  very good. (5365) $20.00.  Religious/History

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: The American Tract Society. 4 pp. 38 x 56 cm. Americans eagerly awaited this monthly religious paper. National news, religious commentary. Missionary news. Bishop McIlvaine's Address at 33rd anniversary of the Society. Position on "anti-slavery". Minnesota was admitted into the confederacy of the United States May 12, making the number of states in the Union 32. Russia to adopt the new style of calendar, so that by 1912 their calendar will coincide with the Gregorian. The children's missionary vessel, "Morning Star" since arriving at the 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. 1860 Portsmouth, NH: James F. Shores, Jun. & Joseph H. Foster. Andrew P. Peabody became famous at the South Church when he stormed against the American victory in the Mexican-American war in 1847. A lifelong pacifist Unitarian preacher, Peabody was a champion of abolition. These three sermons, preached just before the start of the War Between the States, display his eloquence, religious fervor and absolute dedication to the Gospel of Christ. His last sermon is a Vindication of Unitarianism. 32 pp. 14 x 22 cm. (6441) $31.00. Religious/Unitarian

Annual Election Sermon, Preached before His Honor Samuel T. Armstrong, Lieutenant Governor, at the Annual Election, Wednesday, January 6, 1836 by Rev. Andrew Bigelow,  1836 Boston, MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Stirring, nearly two-hour-long sermon begins with Moses parting the Red Sea to escape from Egypt; makes pitch for increased emphasis on Christian education of all in the Commonwealth. Note that this annual sermon before the Legislature has been conducted since 1631. Table in back of booklet lists preachers who performed this act since John Cotton in 1634, including Increase and Cotton Mather and many other respected men of the cloth. Footnote observes that presiding officer is acting governor AND newly elected mayor of Boston, at the same time.  Gov. Everett will be sworn in one week later. 78 pp. 14.3 x 23.6 cm. Paper booklet, ex-library, marked "dup." 4 and 7 cm tears in front cover at spine, dampstain, good. (6193) $24.00. Religious/History

 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: A. Tompkins. Twenty-five sermons delivered between 1818 and 1829.  Christ our Example. Rich Man and Lazarus. False Teachers Compared to Foxes. Sinner meets with deserved punishment. The New Birth. The End of the World. Divine Truth, as represented by Tithes.  The Golden Calf. Evil of Striving Against God. Book belonged to Library of Rev. Eli Ballou, a prominent Vermont Clergyman. 350 pp. 12 x 19 cm. Cloth on board, blindstamped design, Small bookplate shows "Rev. Eli Ballou's Library". Endpapers torn out, leaving only edges. Except for that, appearance and condition very good.    (1757) $40.00. Religious

  

Bible: Polyglott Bible, English Version, containing the Old and New Testaments with the marginal readings 1834 Brattleboro', VT: Fessenden & Co. and Peck & Wood. Bible has illustrations of scripture, critical introduction to scripture, many other study aids. Contains family record of Raymond family, married 1834. 9 cm. thick, 17 x 27 cm. Calf on board with gold lettering and design, scuffed and worn. Marbled endpapers. Pages foxed. Bible is 4 inches thick. Good. (2575) $45.00. Religious.

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