US Army Deserter Describes 40 Years Of Hell, POW escapes and stays in North Korea Options

[huajiro]

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash.htm

In his first U.S. television interview, the former U.S. Army sergeant who deserted to North Korea speaks for the first time about the abuse and control inflicted on him by the communist dictatorship over his nearly 40 years there. Charles Robert Jenkins tells Scott Pelley he Êhad a "U.S. Army" tattoo sliced off without anesthetic and was even told how often to have sex by his communist "leaders" in a 60 MINUTES interview to be broadcast Sunday, Oct. 23 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

In 1965, Jenkins was posted along the hostile border between North and South Korea. He says he was being asked to lead increasingly aggressive patrols and was wary that he might be sent to Vietnam. ÊAnd so, on a sub-zero night, he says he drank 10 beers, abandoned his squad, and walked through a mine-field to surrender to the North.Ê He says he thought he would be sent to Russia and exchanged in some Cold War swap. But he was wrong. "It was the worst mistake anyone ever made," he tells Pelley. "In words I cannot express the feelings I have towards North Korea, the harassment I got. The hard life."

That life included forced studying of the writings of the communist dictator Kim Il Sung. ÊHe says he and three other American deserters were forced to study eight hours a day for seven years. The studying was imposed by communist government handlers called "leaders." They also assigned him a Korean Êwoman, with whom he was supposed to have sexÊ twice a month. "The leaders almost tell her when to do it, and I got in a big fight one time over it," recalls Jenkins.ÊÊ "I told [the leader], 'It's none of his business if I want sleep with her. She wants to sleep -- we sleep.' 'No -- two times a month'" He says he was severely punished for talking back. "That's the worst beating I ever got -- over that," he tells Pelley, showing a scar where he says his teeth came through his lower lip.

Worse still, says Jenkins, was the pain he endured when someone saw his U.S. Army tattoo.Ê He says the North Koreans held him down and cut the words, "U.S. Army," off with a scalpel and scissors -- without giving him any painkiller. "They told me the anesthetic was for the battlefield," says Jenkins, "It was hell."

During his first 15 years in North Korea, Jenkins says he led a lonely and desperate life. Then his North Korean "leaders" brought a young Japanese woman to his door. She had been kidnapped from her homeland by North Korean agents.Ê The Êonly thing they had in common at first was that they hated North Korea, Jenkins says, but the relationship blossomed. They raised two children. Kim Jong Il's decision in 2002 to allow Jenkins' wife and other surviving abductees to return to Japan paved the way for Jenkins' release last year.

Each night before going to bed in North Korea, Jenkins said good night to his wife in Japanese, rather than Korean. He did it, he tells Pelley, to Ê"remind her that she's still Japanese,Ê that she's not Korean.Ê She's not obligated to Korea.Ê She is Japanese... and she spoke to me in English -- every night.Ê Regardless of how hard things got, we always stuck as one."

When Jenkins finally stepped outside the North Korean culture after 40 years, he was most surprised to see women in the Army, limits on where you could smoke and black policemen. He had never heard of 60 MINUTES and thought Life magazine would be the place where he would tell his story. He knew something about the 1969 moon landing, however. "I was told that by the Koreans, one of the officers. They wouldn't say what country, but they said, 'Una handa la'... some country landed on the moon."

[misako]

I lived in mainland China for a year and was quite happy there but North Korea seems far worse in every sense ......wouldnt like to land there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I saw a news about this Japanese lady, her hugging husband...was all quite emotional.

[nickc]

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash.htm

In his first U.S. television interview, the former U.S. Army sergeant who deserted to North Korea speaks for the first time about the abuse and control inflicted on him by the communist dictatorship over his nearly 40 years there. Charles Robert Jenkins tells Scott Pelley he Êhad a "U.S. Army" tattoo sliced off without anesthetic and was even told how often to have sex by his communist "leaders" in a 60 MINUTES interview to be broadcast Sunday, Oct. 23 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

In 1965, Jenkins was posted along the hostile border between North and South Korea. He says he was being asked to lead increasingly aggressive patrols and was wary that he might be sent to Vietnam. ÊAnd so, on a sub-zero night, he says he drank 10 beers, abandoned his squad, and walked through a mine-field to surrender to the North.Ê He says he thought he would be sent to Russia and exchanged in some Cold War swap. But he was wrong. "It was the worst mistake anyone ever made," he tells Pelley. "In words I cannot express the feelings I have towards North Korea, the harassment I got. The hard life."

That life included forced studying of the writings of the communist dictator Kim Il Sung. ÊHe says he and three other American deserters were forced to study eight hours a day for seven years. The studying was imposed by communist government handlers called "leaders." They also assigned him a Korean Êwoman, with whom he was supposed to have sexÊ twice a month. "The leaders almost tell her when to do it, and I got in a big fight one time over it," recalls Jenkins.ÊÊ "I told [the leader], 'It's none of his business if I want sleep with her. She wants to sleep -- we sleep.' 'No -- two times a month'" He says he was severely punished for talking back. "That's the worst beating I ever got -- over that," he tells Pelley, showing a scar where he says his teeth came through his lower lip.

Worse still, says Jenkins, was the pain he endured when someone saw his U.S. Army tattoo.Ê He says the North Koreans held him down and cut the words, "U.S. Army," off with a scalpel and scissors -- without giving him any painkiller. "They told me the anesthetic was for the battlefield," says Jenkins, "It was hell."

During his first 15 years in North Korea, Jenkins says he led a lonely and desperate life. Then his North Korean "leaders" brought a young Japanese woman to his door. She had been kidnapped from her homeland by North Korean agents.Ê The Êonly thing they had in common at first was that they hated North Korea, Jenkins says, but the relationship blossomed. They raised two children. Kim Jong Il's decision in 2002 to allow Jenkins' wife and other surviving abductees to return to Japan paved the way for Jenkins' release last year.

Each night before going to bed in North Korea, Jenkins said good night to his wife in Japanese, rather than Korean. He did it, he tells Pelley, to Ê"remind her that she's still Japanese,Ê that she's not Korean.Ê She's not obligated to Korea.Ê She is Japanese... and she spoke to me in English -- every night.Ê Regardless of how hard things got, we always stuck as one."

When Jenkins finally stepped outside the North Korean culture after 40 years, he was most surprised to see women in the Army, limits on where you could smoke and black policemen. He had never heard of 60 MINUTES and thought Life magazine would be the place where he would tell his story. He knew something about the 1969 moon landing, however. "I was told that by the Koreans, one of the officers. They wouldn't say what country, but they said, 'Una handa la'... some country landed on the moon."

dont desert then !!!

[misako]

dont desert then !!!

I'm sure he'll agree with you now Nick..
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but he was young.....and what an awful place he landed himself in

[nickc]

I'm sure he'll agree with you now Nick..
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but he was young.....and what an awful place he landed himself in

I know what you mean Misako , but i don't feel any sympathy sorry, if you make a decision then you have to deal with the consequences.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[misako]

I wouldnt wanna pay for my sins for 40 yeas (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) thats bit too long for me.
I get you Nick but I do somewhat feel sorry for the chap....and for the Japanese lady actually. I remember reading about people disappearing from towns near the coast in Japan, and the rumour was that they were taken to North Korea....but I cant remember if I quite understood as to "why and what for??" back then.

Compared to present North Korea, mainland China seemed very open even back in early 90's.

[galesport]

Maybe he'd prefer what Pvt. Eddie Slovak got. He needs to quit his whining and shut up. He got what he deserved for abandoning his post and turning his back on his country. He shouldn't be allowed back in unless he wants to share a room a Leavenworth.

Geoff

[ianhay_7]

He shouldn't be allowed back in unless he wants to share a room a Leavenworth.

Geoff

I got a quaint Bavarian village in Kansas on searching for Leavenworth. Can you fill me in re your post as it may be some form of institution rather than liederhosen and schnaps.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Tony N.]

I wouldnt wanna pay for my sins for 40 yeas (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) thats bit too long for me.
I get you Nick but I do somewhat feel sorry for the chap....and for the Japanese lady actually. I remember reading about people disappearing from towns near the coast in Japan, and the rumour was that they were taken to North Korea....but I cant remember if I quite understood as to "why and what for??" back then.

Compared to present North Korea, mainland China seemed very open even back in early 90's.

I appreciate that he does admit his mistake but I don't feel a bit sorry for him. He should have thought what his mother was going to go through if nothing else. But to answer your question as to why the North Koreans were kidnapping Japanese it was to use them to teach the Japanese language to their spies.

[ABridgeTooFar]

I got a quaint Bavarian village in Kansas on searching for Leavenworth. Can you fill me in re your post as it may be some form of institution rather than liederhosen and schnaps.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Leavonworth is a United States military prison in Kansas.

[homefront41]

I'm sure he'll agree with you now Nick,
but he was young ...

He was a SOLDIER, for crying out loud!! No sympathy from me either.

[tbross]

He was a SOLDIER, for crying out loud!! No sympathy from me either.

He turned his back on his family, friends, comrades, and fellow U.S. citizens - I think he deserved what he got.

[The Cooler King]

He deserved what he got? 40 years of torture for one mistake. We are all human, we make mistakes. You think he was the only one that didn't want to go to Vietnam? How about all those boys who went to Canada to dodge the draft. Should we round all them up and send them to North Korea for 40 years? Forgive and forget people. No one is perfect.

[homefront41]

We are all human, we make mistakes. ... Vietnam?

I repeat, HE WAS A TRAINED SOLDIER. And it was Korea. BK

[Yseult]

... but i don't feel any sympathy sorry, if you make a decision then you have to deal with the consequences.

To feel sympathy or pity for someone doesn't mean you condone or approve what they did.

Maybe keeping in mind our own doubts and mistakes would be the ultimate remedy not to cast a quick and harsh judgement over anyone, no matter his mistakes or sins.

Desertion is a crime by any law. Nevertheless: nobody is born to a hero... some live up to the situation and become in fact heroes, some don't. They make heroes shine more btw... and how is it that we let ourselves be touched by the vets we meet and the stories they lived through, invest ourselves in their cause even and forget about the ones that didn't come through, that did not have either the courage or the will to go on ?

This is all a bit too simple for me, I'm afraid.

This post has been edited by Yseult: Oct 25 2005, 02:54 PM