John Sheardown

Diplomat who saved several would-be American hostages in Iran -- via the New York Times. Sounds like a heck of a guy, and this incident from his NYT obit is impossible not to reprint -- 

"At 18, he joined the Canadian Air Force and flew a bomber in World War II, once crash-landing near an English village after limping back from an attack on Germany. He broke both legs, but was able to crawl to a pub door at 3 a.m. and rouse the owner. He asked for a glass of Scotch, which the owner gave him. The owner then asked for payment while Mr. Sheardown waited for an ambulance — a story Mr. Sheardown relished."