Somewhat lost amid the ruckus surrounding a certain election was news that everyone’s favorite American defector to North Korea, Sgt. Charles Jenkins (yes, the very same one I said should rot up North) was handed 30-day confinement and dishonorable discharge in a plea bargain — Rokus.net has the goods. Jenkin’s story told before the hearing is worth reading. Things like this:
He said he repeatedly wanted to die during his 39 years in North Korea. From 1981 to 1985, he taught English to North Korean military cadets being trained as spies.
One time when he said he wanted to stop teaching, “I got in trouble. They carried me home and tied me up and beat the hell out of me,” he said. “I learned one thing: You don’t say no to North Korea. If you do, go dig your hole because you’re gone.”
Well, I guess 30 days is fine — I’m in a relatively good mood today, and having read some of the things he’s been saying since leaving North Korea, I guess I feel somewhat sorry for him. Even the Marmot has a heart, albeit an itsy-bitsy tiny one.
L’Ombre de l’Olivier also covers this story.
UPDATE: The Infidel still seems a little sore with Jenkins:
…The man went AWOL, lived with the enemy, and by his example, if not his own convictions, helped others to do the same. I have no sympathy for him.
Send him back to Pyongyang. He does not deserve to live in the United States, if even in a jail cell.
9 Comments
I think his punishment after all these years is sufficient, especially with a dishonorable discharge. (That’ll ruin his job potential in the U.S.!) Maybe he can be exiled to Sado Island, where his wife is from. It was traditionally a place of exile, I believe.
You have any good links where to read about what he said? You have a quote from him, no link.
Thanks!
Was the mystery of his disappearance ever cleared up? I mean, did he actually write that letter that was supposedly found among his things after and deliberately go to North Korea, or was he abducted while on patrol? I know it’s pointless, but I’m curious…
Oops, just read the “L’ombre” link….question answered.
Added the link to the piece, Plunge. Sorry about that.
Frying pans and fires
Personally, if I was in the military, having drinking problems, worried about being thrown into hazardous duties, and being in fear, my first course of actions would not be to tie a white t-shirt on my gun and defect to North Korea. Marmot thinks a 30 …
Asia by Blog
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Perhaps I didn’t click in the right places, but was this link included in your piece. Perhaps of interest to PL
lunge.
http://www.feer.com/articles/2.....sive1.html
Blog Barfage….
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