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As a child, every morning in school, we stood, put our hands over our hearts and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, we then sang the Star Spangled Banner. As a child, We believed in the integrity of our government and all that it stood for. Then the government came to my family and told us that our uncle was a deserter and defector, and even then we knew they lied, because we knew that the man who had visited us recently, proudly wearing his uniform would not betray all that he believed in.
The years passed and the pain faded. Then in 1996 we were told that our uncle was living in North Korea. The government had known this for almost 14 years but did not see fit to tell us. We got very little information at that time. Then October of 2002 and the release of the Japanese kidnap victims from North Korea and once again our uncle is in the limelight. Some of you have followed the stories about these five men and women and their families still being held in North Korea. If so then you know that the husband of one of these victims is our uncle, he married Hitomi Soga in North Korea while both were teaching at the North Korean spy school. She and the Japanese government have made efforts to get our uncle released, and a major holdback in this is the fact that if released, our uncle would face charges as a deserter and defector. Japan would have to hand him over for military trial. This would be a crime of the utmost proportion.
Why would we say this? The facts are as follows, while leading a patrol in January 1965,Sgt. Charles Robert Jenkins heard a noise. Telling his troops to wait for him, he went to investigate and did not return. That’s it for facts.
Why then did the US Army label him a deserter and defector? Three weeks after his disappearance the North Koreans said he defected. Oh course, our government believed them, don’t they always tell the truth. Like a few months ago when one of their ships carrying a shipment of concrete was found to contain scud missiles. Like they’ve been telling the truth about their nuclear arms. Obviously we can believe them. Next, we have the letters supposedly written by our uncle, letters that were never provided to our family for handwriting analysis. Letters that are quoted as saying dear mother, even though he called her mama and were signed Charles, although he always went by Robert. Letters that the government now tells us they can’t locate. Do we believe this, NO; we’re just not that gullible. We believe that the US Army deserted our uncle. How can we say this? Following is a quote from Army Pamphlet 360-512, Code of the US Fighting Force, Section 1, Paragraph C:
c. Just as you have a responsibility to your country under the Code of Conduct, the United States government has an equal responsibility — always to keep faith with you and stand by you as you fight for your country. If you are unfortunate enough to become a prisoner of war, you may rest assured that your government will care for your dependents and will never forget you. Furthermore, the government will use every practical means to contact, support and gain release for you and for all other prisoners of war.
The government has an obligation to its POW's, an obligation it has ignored in the case of our uncle and many other POW's from the Korean and Vietnam wars. In the case of our uncle they had a choice, either gain release for him or accept the word of the North Koreans and some apparently non-existent letters. They chose the latter. We don’t know why but assume it was just easier to keep the status quo. The government has ignored the evidence of POW's still in Vietnam and soon your family members missing in Iraq could also be denied, and like many other families you will be looking for answers and not getting any.
Now you have weapons we did not have in 1965. We have the Internet for easy access to information. We have the Freedom of Information Act. In 1965, we had no such resources and had to accept what we were told, when we questioned or asked for information we got no answers. Don’t let this happen to you or your loved ones.
We still say the Pledge of Allegiance when prompted, We still believe we have the best country in the world; after all, We would be shot or imprisoned for expressing these opinions in many countries. We just find it hard to believe in liberty and justice for all when liberty is being left to rot in a communist country for 38 years and justice is a having a label branded on you by a government that has no evidence of the alleged crimes.
Since October we have been writing to President George Bush and asking for a pardon for our uncle so he may be free to go to Japan and live with his wife if the North Koreans will release him. We have only gotten back letters stating the president is looking into the situation, form letters. We ask that anyone who feels that the president should uphold the government’s obligation to its POW's please sign this petition. It may be one of your family members who get to return to freedom. |
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