Charles Robert Jenkins

Charles Robert Jenkins (Template:Birth dateTemplate:Spaced en dashTemplate:Death date) was a deserter from the United States Army, a North Korean prisoner, and voice for Japanese abductees in North Korea.

Driven by fear of combat and possible service in the Vietnam War, then-Sergeant Jenkins abandoned his patrol and walked across the Korean Demilitarized Zone in January 1965. Instead of being sent to the Soviet Union and then traded back to the US, Jenkins was held captive in North Korea for over 39 years. While kept prisoner, Jenkins was tortured, forced to wed a captured Japanese national, and cast in North Korean propaganda videos.

With improved Japanese–North Korean relations, Jenkins was allowed to travel to Japan and flee North Korea in 2004. After reporting to Camp Zama that September, Jenkins was court-martialed and served 25 days as an inmate in the brig at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Until his death in 2017, Jenkins lived in his wife's childhood Sado home with her and their two daughters, wrote a book about his experiences in North Korea, worked in a local museum, and was treated like a celebrity by the Japanese.

Early life

Charles Robert Jenkins was born on Template:Birth date in Rich Square, North Carolina,<ref name="2017-12-12 NYT" /> to Patti Casper Jenkins.<ref name="2005-06-08 NBC News" /> He had at least two siblings: a younger sister (Pat)<ref name="2004-11-04 NYT" /> and a younger brother (Stanford). Jenkins dropped out of Rich Square High School—precipitated by either a sports injury<ref name="1965-01-27 Daily Times-News" /> or the mid-1950s death of his father—in the seventh grade.<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" />

US Army

Jenkins in a 1950s Army photo

Lacking a high school diploma,<ref name="2015-11 BBC" /> Jenkins enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard<ref name="1965-01-27 Daily Times-News" /> from 1955 through April 1958. After his honorable discharge from the Guard,<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" /> he enlisted in the active-duty United States Army that same year<ref name="2008-03-13 WSJ" /><ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" /> as a light weapons infantryman. First stationed at Fort Hood, Jenkins next volunteered to deploy with the 7th Infantry Division to South Korea<ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" /> from August 1960 through September 1961; while there, he was promoted to sergeant.<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" /> After briefly returning to the US, Jenkins was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in West Germany until 1964.<ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" /> That year, he volunteered for a second deployment to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" />

Desertion

On 5 January 1965, 24-year-old Sergeant Jenkins was stationed at the DMZ with the Army's 8th Cavalry Regiment<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" /> when he decided to desert the United States Armed Forces because he was being ordered to lead "more aggressive, provocative patrols", and there were rumors that his unit would be sent to Vietnam.<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" /> After drinking ten beers to build his courage,<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" /> Jenkins went on patrol with his squad. At 2:30am, after telling the other three men that "he heard a noise", Jenkins disappeared into the night approximately Template:Convert south of Panmunjom.<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" /> To show his peaceful intentions, he removed the rounds from<ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" /> his M14 rifle, and tied a white t-shirt to the muzzle before walking for several cold hours towards North Korea.<ref name="2004-12-13 Time" /> He had planned to claim asylum with the Soviet Union and then return to the US for discharge and punishment via a prisoner exchange.<ref name="2017-12-12 BBC" /><ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> He was instead held prisoner in North Korea for Template:Fraction years.<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" />

The Army declared Jenkins a defector based on four letters that he left behind in his barracks; one, addressed to his mother, read: "Forgive me, for I know what I must do. Tell my family I love them. Love, Charles." Jenkins' family disputed this determination because he "always either signed letters 'Robert' or used his nickname 'Super'." In 1996, Jenkins was reclassified by the US military as a deserter.<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" /> Jenkins' nephew, James Hyman, was a decades-long strident defendant of the theory that his uncle had been kidnapped by North Koreans.<ref name="2004-12-13 Time" />

Jenkins would later tell Professor Robert Boynton (of New York University) "that he had been a double-agent, sent to North Korea by the U.S. to spy on them". Boynton disbelieved Jenkins' claim, calling it "his attempt to maintain some dignity, and prove he wasn't just a hapless sap who made a life-altering mistake."<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" />

In North Korea

Jenkins was initially housed with fellow US deserters Larry Allen Abshier, James Joseph Dresnok, and Jerry Wayne Parrish.<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" /> The American men fought amongst themselves, with Jenkins later describing the Template:Convert Dresnok as a bully who informed on the others to their captors<ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" /> and beat Jenkins himself.<ref name="2007-08-10 NYT" /> On 26 January 1965, North Korean radio announced that Jenkins had defected there "because of disgust with conditions in South Korea and that he believed life was better under the Template:Sic."<ref name="1965-01-27 Daily Times-News" /> In 1966, the four men attempted escape by seeking asylum at the Soviet embassy in Pyongyang, but were unsuccessful.<ref name="2014-02-07 OHCHR" /> In 1972, the four US servicemen in North Korea were given their own homes and declared citizens, though their "constant surveillance, beatings and torture" continued.<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" />

During his imprisonment in North Korea, Jenkins was made to memorize Kim Il Sung's writings and work for the communist state as an English teacher and translator.<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" /> Jenkins' lessons in American English lasted until 1985 when it was decided that his pronounced Southern accent was more a hindrance than not.<ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" />

A portrait photo of a dark-haired Japanese woman wearing a light shirt under a dark sweater; she is looking into the camera with a formal expression

Hitomi Soga in 2023

In 1978, Hitomi Soga (born Template:Birth based on age as of date)<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" /> was a Japanese student nurse in Sado, Niigata when she and her mother were kidnapped by North Korean agents and taken to their country to train more agents there.<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" /> At the direction of the North Korean government, the 21-year-old Soga was assigned to Jenkins in 1980, and they were married weeks later<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" /> on 8 August.<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" /> They had two daughters: Mika (born in 1983) and Brinda (born in 1985). An interviewer of Jenkins would later tell The Japan Times that Jenkins' relationship with Soga was remarkable: Jenkins said "several times that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him [...] 'She saved my life,' he told me. I suspect he was right."<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" /> After their release from North Korea in the early 2000s, Jenkins offered to dissolve their marriage, as it had been imposed upon them; Soga declined.<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" />

During the 1990s North Korean famine that killed millions of North Koreans, as an asset for propaganda, Jenkins and his family still received rations of clothing, insect-infested rice, and soap.<ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" /> In their 2004 testimony, Jenkins and Soga told the US Army about their living accommodations in North Korea—or lack thereof. While heat, warm water, and food were scarce, the omnipresent state surrounded them and their home with barbed wire, hidden microphones, and "political supervisors".<ref name="2004-11-04 NYT" /> By the time he left, Jenkins was receiving from the North Korean government a monthly income of Template:US dollar, and his daughters were enrolled at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies,<ref name="2004-12-13 Time" /> possibly for training to infiltrate South Korea.<ref name="2004-12-13 Time" /><ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" />

Acting

In 1978, production began on the 20-film series Unsung Heroes which tells the North Korean version of the Korean War and its antecedents. Jenkins was made to play Dr. Kelton, a capitalist warmonger who endeavored to extend the war to benefit the US arms industry. These films made Jenkins a celebrity; he was recognized on the street as "Dr. Kelton!" (Template:Langx) and asked to sign autographs.<ref name="2015-11 BBC" /> One of these films was delivered to Jenkins' family in 1997—their first sight of Jenkins since his desertion.<ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" />

Jenkins' last North Korean film was in 2000, about the communists' capture of Template:USS,<ref name="2015-11 BBC" /> portraying a US aircraft carrier captain.<ref name="2008-03-13 WSJ" /> His celebrity status as an alleged-defector-turned-movie-star also afforded him greater social cachet as a state prize, allowing him to see Soviet dignitaries and diplomats who piteously slipped him materials and information from outside North Korea.<ref name="2009-09-22 Vice" />

Expatriation

Due to the 2002 Japan–North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, Soga was allowed to leave for Japan on 15 October<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" /> for ten days; she did not return to North Korea.<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> The government of Japan petitioned the US to pardon Jenkins, hoping Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi could bring back the American and his daughters after a May diplomatic trip.<ref name="2004-05-16 Japan Times" /> Ultimately, they refused to leave; because of the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement, he still faced court-martial if he traveled to Japan—because the statute of limitations for desertion was 40 years (5 January 2005)—and possible capital punishment.<ref name="2004-06-05 Asia Times" />

Instead, Pyongyang eventually permitted Jenkins and his daughters to fly to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Indonesia where they reunited with Soga<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> and the Japanese government promised residency for the whole family.<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" /> After his release from North Korea, Jenkins was Template:Convert tall,<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" /> and only weighed Template:Convert,<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" /> having lost his appendix, one testicle, and part of a US Army tattoo (cut off without anesthetic) to North Korea. Of the four 1960s deserters to North Korea, he was the only one to ever leave.<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> Upon arrival in Japan from Indonesia, Jenkins spent a month in the hospital at Tokyo Women's Medical University<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" /> to recover from complications of prostate surgery (performed in North Korea before he left).<ref name="2004-12-13 Time" />

Court-martial

Template:Infobox court case On 11 September 2004, he presented himself to Lieutenant Colonel Paul Nigara at Camp Zama, saying with a salute, "Sir, I'm Sergeant Jenkins and I'm reporting".<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> Jenkins' court-martial began and ended on 3 November 2004.<ref name="2004-11-04 NYT" /> He was the longest-missing deserter to return to the US military.<ref name="2008-03-13 WSJ" /><ref name="2017-12-12 Independent" />

Represented by Captain James D. Culp,<ref name="2004-09-01 FEER" /> Jenkins' single-day court-martial (United States v. Jenkins) was convened by United States Army, Japan on 3 November 2004. Colonel Denise Vowell was judge for the bench trial. In accordance with his pre-trial agreement,<ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" /> Jenkins pled guilty to desertion and aiding the enemy (the latter for teaching English in North Korea).<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> Vowell sentenced him to "six months' confinement, total forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade, and a dishonorable discharge." Major General Elbert N. Perkins, the general court-martial convening authority, changed the confinement to 30 days, and approved the remainder of the sentence,<ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" /> to be in the brig at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka—where, Captain King H. Dietriech assured reporters, "there will be no special treatment for Private Jenkins."<ref name="2004-11-04 NYT" />

Jenkins spent only 25 days in the brig; he was released early for good conduct<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> on 27 November 2004. Having waived "his post-trial and appellate rights", Jenkins' demotion and dishonorable discharge were executed on 18 July 2005.<ref name="2021 The Army Lawyer" /> Portions of the court-martial were incorporated into Daniel Gordon's documentary about US servicemembers who defected to North Korea, Crossing the Line.<ref name="2007-08-10 NYT" />

Three-quarters photo of an older white man wearing a formal US Army uniform bearing sergeant's stripes; he is seated behind a table and microphone looking to the right of frame

Sergeant Jenkins at court-martial

BBC News reported that Jenkins may have received only the 30-day sentence because of the intelligence he provided the US.<ref name="2017-12-14 BBC" /> In 2009, Jenkins told Vice that in addition to receiving a sergeant's salary while in prison<ref name="2009-09-22 Vice" />—a monthly rate of Template:US$<ref name="2004-01-01 DFAS" />—he spent his time working with military intelligence. According to Jenkins, the sentence was "all a big set-up for the outside world so it looked like justice was done. After all, I betrayed my country and people wanted to see me get punished for that – but I was just helping the government with what I knew. They just gave me the shortest sentence possible with a week off for good behaviour so it didn't seem like I was let off the hook."<ref name="2009-09-22 Vice" />

Civilian life

After his release from prison, Jenkins lived with his family in Soga's Sado childhood home.<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" /> In June 2005, he visited the United States with his wife and children. They travelled to his home town of Rich Square, North Carolina, where Charles was reunited with his 91-year-old mother, whom he had not seen in four decades.<ref name="2005-06-08 NBC News" /> Jenkins' mother and sister still lived in the state when he expatriated from North Korea.<ref name="2004-11-04 NYT" /><ref name="2005-10-23 60 Minutes" /> When his mother died at the age of 94, Jenkins again travelled to Rich Square to bury her.<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" />

Jenkins continued to fear that agents of Kim Jong Il would retaliate against him in Japan; he was unable to eat sashimi out of fear it would make him sick from the memories; and he was more fluent in Korean than English. To record what he remembered and experienced, Jenkins published a memoir in 2008: The Reluctant Communist.<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" /> In Japan, Jenkins fostered an interest in motorcycling; he was featured on the cover of Mr. Bike, a Japanese motorcycle-enthusiast magazine.<ref name="2009-09-22 Vice" />

The Japanese Ministry of Justice expedited Jenkins' application for permanent residency, which was awarded on 15 July 2008.<ref name="2008-07-15 Yomiuri Shimbun" /><ref name="2008-07-16 Japan Times" /> Jenkins worked in Sado selling Template:Transliteration at a local museum.<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" /> Treated like a celebrity, he frequently posed for photographs with Japanese patrons, at times up to 300 per hour.<ref name="2009-07-16 LAT" /> In Japan, he was credited with helping bring global attention to the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens.<ref name="2017-12-12 Japan Times" />

On 11 December 2017, Jenkins collapsed outside his Sado home, and later died of cardiovascular disease.<ref name="2017-12-12 BBC" />

Filmography

Filmography of Charles Robert Jenkins

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1978–1981	Unsung Heroes	Dr. Kelton	A North Korean epic miniseries	<ref name="2015-11 BBC" />
2006	Crossing the Line	Himself	A documentary film featuring footage of his court martial	<ref name="2007-08-10 NYT" />

See also

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Further reading

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External links

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