Rick Kupke's quick action during the Carter-era disaster helped lead to the hostages' release. January 27, 2021 Frederick Lee Kupke reaches out from the window of a van to greet the people who turned out to welcome him home following his release from Tehran. | Location: Francesville, Indiana, USA.Photo: Getty Images, Bettman Archive Northern Indiana doesn’t see many parades in January, but 40 years ago, the town of Francesville turned out to welcome Frederick Lee Kupke home on a brisk winter day. He stretched out the window of an RV as he waved to the crowd, which seemed to sigh in collective relief. He was making his way home after landing in Washington, D.C., following his release from Iran, where he had just spent over a year as a hostage.