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."
Are our tax dollars going to be used to support this man and his family? Hmmm... will he be applying for social security?
According to whom?
You?
Why? Isn't 40 years in North Korean hell sufficient punishment for a momentary lapse in judgment by a young soldier?
Geez, if all he did was MURDER some people, he would've been set free long before then in most jurisdictions. And yet, you desire to wish him continued suffering and misery.
Why?
most are probably Macalester students (home of Kofi Annan lovin' pinkos everywhere)
"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"
Qualifies for one of those "Hold muh beer" pings.
Already has.
Why?, etc.
I'm not a psychiatrist. I don't do whys.
As far as momentary judgements: one better think something through because you'll have a lifetime to regret it if it's a stupid, momentary impulse.
True for this guy, you, me and the rest of us. He screwed up and has to live with it forever.
Just like Bill Buckner.
And what war were we in in 1965? I distinctly remember being in a police action at around this time, but no war.
What war?
You are right, remember the govt allows S---H---Jesse Jacka-- go to cuba Libiya and many places you or I would be jailed for going not to mention calypso louie .
Multiculturalism is a BIG LIE. We are not all the same. True Americans are the best. If the left doesn't like it send them to Korea to live.
Never abandon your troops. That's the first thing even an assistant squad leader is taught.
"I believe the penalty for desertion in war time is death..."
He was in Korea when he deserted in 1965, and there was never a declaration of war against North Vietnam. No US soldier has been executed for desertion since the last declared war (1945).
I certainly understand your wish for a death penalty in today's era of undeclared war, but the military tribunals don't quite see things your way.
The only thing I feel bad about is that Jane Fonda didnt suffer like this character. He made his choice why should I feel sorry for him.This idiot who joined the Muslims against the US made his too. Why should I feel sorry for traitors any more than I feel sorry for a man who murdered his wife. I dont.
My mistake. He deserted and went over to the enemy while his fellow soldiers were fighting other communists. Same penalty should apply. Big Bubba for a lifelong soul mate.
Wonder if he liked North Korean beer?
Not that it would make a difference to such a clown, but I hope he also gets to spend the rest of his life as a dishonorably discharged creature.
Good point, declared war or not I was in Korea in around 89 as soldiers we were certainly convinced that the penalty for desertion was death.But I was never what anyone would call well versed in military law.
Thank you for your service!
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