Tony Mendez

Joseph Antonio "Tony" Mendez ( * 1940 in Eureka, Nevada ) is a former intelligence officer of the U.S. intelligence service CIA as well as a visual artist and writer. He achieved fame through the rescue of six American diplomats during the hostage-taking in Tehran, called the Canadian Caper.

Life and career

With 14 years of Mendez and his family moved to Colorado. After his high school graduation, he began studying at the University of Colorado. Later he worked as a plumber, graphic artist and designer of electronic components for Martin Marietta. In 1965 he responded to an anonymous discontinued by the CIA newspaper ad (called a " blind ad" ) and was then for the technical service in Washington, DC adjusted. His responsibilities included the falsification of documents, and creating Tarnidentitäten. Within the CIA Mendez rose to the " Chief of Disguise " (in German about: Chef of concealment ) on. He worked for 25 years undercover for the Secret Service, among others in South and Southeast Asia as well as in operations in conflicts of the Cold War and the Middle East. After his retirement in 1990, he retired to a farm in Washington County, Maryland, where he runs an art studio and a gallery and has worked as a writer. Tony Mendez is married and has four children.

Awards

For his aid for the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran him the CIA the award " Intelligence Star of Valor " awarded in 1980 ( German: Intelligence Star for valor ), the second highest award of the CIA, as well as the " Intelligence Medal of Merit " ( German: intelligence medal for performance). In 1997, Mendez was selected as one of 50 former and current employees of the CIA with the " Trail Blazer Medallion": excellent ( German pioneer Medal ). Tony Mendez's Mission for the Canadian Caper was processed cinematically in the excellent three Oscars Argo (2012 ).

Works

Tony Mendez wrote a total of four books. His first book, "The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA ," which he wrote with his co-author Malcolm McConnell, was published in 1999. In 2003 he published with his wife, Jonna Mendez the book " Spy Dust". These two books are considered standard works for recruits of intelligence agencies in the United States. " Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History" In 2012, the books " A Classic Case of Deception " and were published.