Tony Mendez

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US President Jimmy Carter congratulates Antonio J. Mendez on his service with Operation Argo , March 12, 1980

Antonio Joseph "Tony" Mendez (born November 15, 1940 in Eureka , Nevada , † January 19, 2019 in Frederick , Maryland ) was an intelligence officer of the US intelligence service CIA as well as a visual artist and author. He gained notoriety through the rescue of six American diplomats during the hostage-taking of Tehran , the so-called Canadian Caper .

life and career

At the age of 14, Mendez moved to Colorado with his family . After graduating from high school , he began studying at the University of Colorado . Later he worked as an installer , graphic artist and designer of electronic components for Martin Marietta . In 1965, he replied to a newspaper ad posted anonymously by the CIA (a so-called "blind ad") and was subsequently hired for technical services in Washington, DC . His duties included forging documents and creating cover identities. Within the CIA, Mendez rose to the position of "Chief of Disguise" (in German, for example: Chief of Veiling). For 25 years he worked undercover for the secret service in South and Southeast Asia, among others, as well as on missions in conflicts during the Cold War and in the Middle East . After retiring in 1990, he retired to a farm in Washington County , Maryland , where he ran an art studio and gallery and worked as a writer. Tony Mendez died on January 19, 2019 at the age of 78 of complications from Parkinson's disease . He was married and had four children.

Awards

In 1980 the CIA awarded him the "Intelligence Star of Valor" (German: secret service star for bravery), the second highest award of the CIA, as well as the "Intelligence Medal of Merit" for his help in rescuing six American diplomats from Tehran. (German: Secret Service Medal for Achievement). In 1997 Mendez was one of 50 selected former and current employees of the CIA with the "Trailblazer Medallion" (German: pioneer medal) awarded. Tony Mendez's mission during the Canadian Caper was cinematically processed in the three Academy Award-winning film Argo (2012). Mendez is played here by Ben Affleck .

Works

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

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c The Best Reviews: Antonio J. Mendez (Engl.). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ Katie Kilkenny: Tony Mendez, Former CIA Officer Portrayed in 'Argo,' Dies at 78 January 19, 2019, accessed January 20, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g Master of Disguise: Antonio ( Memento from September 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (English). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ a b c Tony Mendez biography (engl.). Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  5. ^ Forrest Wickman: Congratulations. Tell no one. How secretive are awards for CIA agents? In: Slate.com. December 11, 2012, archived from the original on May 29, 2013 ; accessed on February 28, 2015 .
  6. ^ Karen Gardner: Undercover no more. December 11, 2011, archived from the original on October 20, 2012 ; accessed on February 27, 2013 . [] (). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. ^ Antonio Mendez: A Classic Case of Deception , CIA 2012.
  8. ^ Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio: Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History , Penguin 2012, ISBN 0241964598 .
personal data
SURNAME Mendez, Tony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mendez, Antonio Joseph (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION CIA intelligence officer, visual artist and author
DATE OF BIRTH November 15, 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH Eureka , Nevada
DATE OF DEATH 19th January 2019
Place of death Frederick , Maryland