Posted on 10/21/2005 1:59:38 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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."
Still waiting for the treason trials for Hanoi Jane and Kerry.
Why should we let him come back?
Simply a few words to all you merciless people out there!
We are not communists in this country , we are supposed to be the country of life ,liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This guy made a huge mistake 40 years ago and he realises it and has more than paid for it.
Thats the difference, we believe in second chances. I am glad all you people that dont want to give this guy a second chance arent runnung this country!
Man, you guys are pretty harsh. Yeah, I don't have much sympathy for the guy, but lighten up now. He did 40 years of hard time. That is worse than we give rapists and murders a lot of the time. I know deserting the military and turning traitor carries it's own special dishonor but I for one think he had pair the price. Yes, as a member of the US Army his is scum. But he is American citizen. I say, hand him is dishonorable discharge and then welcome him home.
Why should we let him come back?
Simply a few words to all you merciless people out there!
We are not communists in this country , we are supposed to be the country of life ,liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This guy made a huge mistake 40 years ago and he realises it and has more than paid for it.
Thats the difference, we believe in second chances. I am glad all you people that dont want to give this guy a second chance arent runnung this country!
save
I could think of a few justifiable lesser punishments for this guy because of his actions than 40yrs under communist rule.
He paid for his crime and his experiences should be documented and discussed in commie colleges across our land.
His dishonor and experiences far paid his debt for deserting.
Traitor pure and simple.
JJ
Alan Alda must love this guy...
Not quite, I believe the penalty for desertion in war time is death.
You do have a point. He just walked away from his duty, but Clinton was let off the hook even being a real Traitor to this country. This poor smuck made a mighty mistake and paid far more than most for this mistake.
You only "rent" beer.
Why did we let him come back?
There's his treason and desertion trials...
Idiot should have been shot for treason, cowardice and desertion in time of war.
I feel no empathy for him whatsoever. However, I do feel sorry for his family members, who insisted for years (until he returned to the U.S., of course) that he had been kidnapped. I would feel quite ashamed, were I related to a deserter.
He deserted during a war and went over to the enemy
During what declared war did he desert? I believe the man learned his lesson. And I hope he and his wife can live out the rest of their years in freedom peacefully
I'd still like to see him lined up before a military firing squad, but your suggestion for punishment works.
I always thought the penalty for desertion was the firing squad or hanging......
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