 Ambassador Bishop requested an evacuation of the American community on 1 January , indicating that the evacuation could be with the planned Italian , French , or German evacuation efforts , but preferred an evacuation by the US military . The State Department authorized the evacuation on 2 January and on that day , Ambassador Bishop specifically requested an evacuation by the US military , thereby initiating Operation Eastern Exit . Ambassador Bishop had spent a considerable amount of time discussing contingency plans for evacuation with other diplomatic posts . Ultimately , ten heads of missions — eight ambassadors and two chargés d 'affaires — along with their staff sought refuge in the US embassy compound and were evacuated . 
 Ambassador Bishop requested an evacuation of the American community on 1 January , indicating that the evacuation could be with the planned Italian , French , or German evacuation efforts , but preferred an evacuation by the US military . The State Department authorized the evacuation on 2 January and on that day , Ambassador Bishop specifically requested an evacuation by the US military , thereby initiating Operation Eastern Exit . Ambassador Bishop <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> spent a considerable amount of time discussing contingency plans for evacuation with other diplomatic posts . Ultimately , ten heads of missions <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>—</mark></a> eight ambassadors and two chargés d <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'</mark></a>ffaires — along with their staff sought refuge in the US embassy compound and <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> evacuated . 
Ambassador Bishop requested an evacuation of the American community on 1 January , indicating that the evacuation could b with the planned Italian , French , or German evacuation efforts , but preferred an evacuation by the US military . The State Department authorized the evacuation on 2 January and on dat day , Ambassador Bishop specifically requested an evacuation by da US military , thereby initiating Operation Eastern Exit . Ambassador Bishop done spent a considerable amount of time discussing contingency plans for evacuation wit other diplomatic posts . Ultimately , ten heads of missions ——ed eight ambassadors and 2 chargés d  ffaires — along with their staff sought refuge in tdaUS embassy compound and was evacuated .