Arnold L. Raphel
Career diplomat who worked to free the Iran hostages and became ambassador to Pakistan; killed in the 1988 air crash that also took the life of President Zia-ul-Haq. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Service Record
| Born | March 16, 1943, Troy, New York |
|---|---|
| Education | B.A., Hamilton College, 1964; M.A., Maxwell School, Syracuse University, 1966 |
| Joined State Department | 1966 |
| Special Operations Group, Iran hostage crisis | 1979 |
| Special Assistant to Secretary of State Edmund Muskie | 1981 |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary of State | 1985 |
| U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan | June 1987 – August 17, 1988 |
| Died | August 17, 1988, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan, age 45 |
| Honor | Presidential Citizens Medal, 1989 |
Overview
Arnold Raphel knew from childhood what he wanted to do. He spent his life doing it, and gave his life in the service of it.
Early Life and Education
He was born in Troy, New York. At twelve he wrote to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles about his interest in diplomacy. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1964 and earned a master's degree from Syracuse University's Maxwell School in 1966, the year he joined the State Department.
Career
In 1979 he was a key member of the State Department's Special Operations Group, formed to win the release of the American hostages held in Iran. He served as special assistant to Secretary of State Edmund Muskie and later as a deputy assistant secretary of state. He became the 18th U.S. ambassador to Pakistan in June 1987, at a critical moment in the Afghan war.
Sacrifice
On August 17, 1988, he was aboard the aircraft carrying Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq when it crashed near Bahawalpur, Punjab. All aboard were killed, including the president and 28 others. Ambassador Raphel was 45.
Legacy
He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989. The State Department's Arnold L. Raphel Memorial Award carries his name.
Recognition
Envoys of Record honors Arnold L. Raphel among the members of the Foreign Service who gave their lives in the service of the United States. Their names are kept here so that their service is not forgotten.