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Deserter Charles Jenkins Visits U.S.
Associated Press ^ | June 13, 2005

Posted on 06/13/2005 8:58:40 AM PDT by robowombat

Deserter Charles Jenkins Visits U.S. Associated Press June 13, 2005

TOKYO - Charles Jenkins, a U.S. soldier who deserted his Army unit 40 years ago and fled to North Korea, and his Japanese wife left their home in northern Japan on Monday for his first visit to the United States since he turned himself in late last year.

Jenkins was scheduled to fly to Washington D.C. on Tuesday after spending a night in Tokyo. He has said he has no plans to move to the United States, but has repeatedly said he wants to see his 91-year-old mother, who lives in a nursing home in Roanoke Rapids, N.C.

He was expected to stay in the United States for about a week.

Jenkins, 65, served 25 days in a U.S. military jail in Japan last year after a court-martial. He came to Japan in July to be with his Japanese wife, Hitomi Soga, who was kidnapped by North Korean agents in 1978 but allowed to return home in 2002.

The couple, who met in North Korea, have two daughters. The daughters were also expected to travel with Jenkins on Tuesday.

Jenkins' plight became a national issue in Japan because Soga was one of at least a dozen Japanese kidnapped and taken to the North to serve as teachers for its spies. Her mother, who also disappeared the night she was kidnapped, has never been found.

After a flurry of diplomatic negotiations spearheaded by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the North allowed her and four other abductees to come home two years ago, but Jenkins and their daughters Mika, now 21, and Brinda, 19, stayed in North Korea. Koizumi made a personal appeal during a summit in Pyongyang, and Jenkins and his daughters came in July to Japan, where he surrendered to U.S. military authorities.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: charlesjenkins; deserter

1 posted on 06/13/2005 8:58:40 AM PDT by robowombat
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To: robowombat
I'm at a loss as to what to do with this guy.

There's no prison in the US that doesn't seem like a paradise compared to 40 years in NK.

2 posted on 06/13/2005 9:00:37 AM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: robowombat

Is there an companion article with about a ticker tape parade hosted by other traitors like Hanoi jane fonda?
(I know different war, but same thinking).


3 posted on 06/13/2005 9:02:25 AM PDT by phil1750 (Love like you've never been hurt;Dance like nobody's watching;PRAY like it's your last prayer)
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To: robowombat
He has said he has no plans to move to the United States

Really? I'm shocked. We'd be so happy to have him back, too. Maybe he'd be willing to take a few like-minded citizens back with him.

4 posted on 06/13/2005 9:03:04 AM PDT by newgeezer (Sarcasm content: 100.00%)
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To: wideawake

I think there's evidence he was mentally deranged as a teenage recruit. 40 years in NK is penalty enough.


5 posted on 06/13/2005 9:04:23 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: KylaStarr; Cindy; StillProud2BeFree; nw_arizona_granny; Velveeta; Dolphy; appalachian_dweller; ...

ping


6 posted on 06/13/2005 9:08:13 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Soga was one of at least a dozen Japanese kidnapped and taken to the North to serve as teachers for its spies.

And you only get 25 DAYS in prison for this?

7 posted on 06/13/2005 9:09:55 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia

I don't think he kidnapped his wife.


8 posted on 06/13/2005 9:11:41 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Calpernia

It says that he met his wife in North Korea, that would have been after she was kidnapped.


9 posted on 06/13/2005 9:17:01 AM PDT by NTegraT
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To: robowombat

All is forgiven... now return to North Korea where you belong.


10 posted on 06/13/2005 9:31:38 AM PDT by Luke (CPO, USCG (Ret))
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

I don't know if he kidnapped his wife. Teaching others to be spies is what caught my eye.


11 posted on 06/13/2005 9:44:44 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: NTegraT

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1421924/posts?page=11#11


12 posted on 06/13/2005 9:45:11 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia

I don't think he had much to teach.


13 posted on 06/13/2005 10:10:32 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: robowombat



Tell me tell me was he received at the airport by Dean???


14 posted on 06/14/2005 12:51:22 PM PDT by phoenix_004
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To: robowombat

We (the company I work for) carried this guy, his wife and his entire entourage on one of our 50 seat regional jets, for the domestic portion of his trip. The press was at the gate when the new crew arrived to pick up the plane. They new nothing of what was going on. Needless to say, we got a phonecall from the flight deck and got a play by play..


15 posted on 06/14/2005 1:35:56 PM PDT by cardinal4 (Extraordinary Circumstances- proving PT Barnum was right..)
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