39 Years, 6 Months, 4 Days (2005) | 60 Minutes Archive

In 2005, Scott Pelley spoke with Charles Robert Jenkins, a former U.S. soldier who had deserted to North Korea in 1965, about the abuse and control he suffered over his nearly 40 years there.
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[@dabprod]

I was in Korea as an American soldier in 1964, but returned home in March. I don't remember hearing about this. He's very lucky to be alive.

[@WestVirginia1959]

True

[@lelandunruh7896]

The stupid decisions I made in my twenties resulted in hospital visits and empty bank accounts. I can't imagine living with a mistake for that long!

[@CafeMich]

Wow, just wow. I'm at a loss of words by this story. To have recklessly sacrificed your freedom and endured suffering in a totalitarian regime is just total insanity. I'm glad he survived and was able to reunite with his wife (extremely bizarre circumstance, too) and his mother in NC. The ending actually made me tear up 😢

[@RonHelton]

Not to worry, they are rapidly moving us in the direction of a totalitarian state. Passing unconstitutional laws and overstepping their authority. Direct taxes have been in effect since 1913 to ensure that we can not defund this government without a fight. A law they are currently trying to pass to make it illegal to speak out against Israel. This is an illegitimate government. And they want to have digital currency which they will be able to control remotely without our consent. #MafiaGovernment #WakeUpAmerica

[@4925kelly]

People do the strangest things.

[@peterlafayette5595]

I'm a veteran, I hold none, not a spec of ill will or feeling svs towards this man. I wish him and his family well.

[@adilkanouni5461]

That last part Mama... Hit hard couldn't stop crying as a men

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

How many are you?

[@oscarotter790]

@@readmelancholystrumpetmaster I'm 33 and I cried. I cry because I have Freedom because God created me to Love; I'm lucky to experience a privileged life leveraged with so much Love. God bless this planet and those who fight against Love; God have mercy on them, please.

[@oscarotter790]

@@ChristopherGray00 Nah, I worship Love and am thankful for everything new.

[@user-fr8ve7wf6i]

I wanted to see her meet her daughter-in-law and grandchildren!

[@mrsjmehta]

What a story!! I'm glad he was really loved by his wife & was reunited with his mother.

[@bobcharlie2337]

That's some mistake, but he had two daughters from this. And when he came back he did the right things and made amends.

[@michaelolden2682]

How, exactly did he do the right things and make amends? I am a DMZ veteran, and I not see it.

[@bobcharlie2337]

@@michaelolden2682 What parts bother you?

[@ibuprofenPill]

We don’t need to put him in prison, he’s been in one for almost 40 years.

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

​@@michaelolden2682 he suffered for his foolishness n we're no one to judge him. Shell shock is real & sadly many soldiers were afraid & suppressed that fear. Many of them endured horrid PTSD & did not deserve to made feel like they weren't Men. Its called being human. Our Govt has allowed worse in our lifetime & are not held accountable. This Man knows he paid dearly, horribly for his act of having deserted. Peace be with him, with those that realize or find out too late they should not be in combat. Peace be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@billyz8868]

​@@FemiNelson-sb1em that's the dumbest comment in the history of the Internet.

[@bodbn]

@@billyz8868 Not really a very sensible comment to be quite honest. Stop with the drama and theatrics and try to be a human for a few moments. You might find you like it.

[@michaelolden2682]

​@@FemiNelson-sb1em. No. There is no we here. I served on the DMZ. Did you?

[@michaelolden2682]

​@@bodbnnothing to do with being a human. He was a SGT leading a patrol in an very dangerous place. He selfishly left him men behind without a patrol leader. Jenkins did not act like a human to the humans for which he was responsible.

[@moebarcelona3765]

Its a blessing for both mother and son to reunite after them long years. What a beautiful story.

[@guiltychild6948]

Have to say when they met at the end, that hit me real hard. To see his poor mother waited for so long, for such a senseless act by him. Heartbreaking

[@giovannidibravato5576]

@@guiltychild6948 yes i agree I almost cried! - oh no I did cry lol

[@guiltychild6948]

@@giovannidibravato5576 me2😂

[@m.b.88]

This illustrates how systems and policies effect human beings more than they effect countries, politics and the privileged. You can say whatever you like about him, but he was a human being who deserved and deserves compassion just like everyone else does.

[@user-iv7ts3zm4y]

Find the troops he left behind. Tell their story.

[@lil----lil]

Who amongst us was not once young & stupid? He PAID a price that nearly killed him. You can see a deep sense of remorse and regret from him. This old man learned his lesson. RIP. Mr. Jenkins.

[@Aristotelezz]

There are a few documentaries about American deserters in north-Korea. Clearly they all regretted it deeply, although they could not always expressed it that way.

[@brucefredrickson9677]

Age 24 is not young and stupid.

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

​@@brucefredrickson9677 Our Govt People are older n commit worse atrocities than desertion. He paid his debt to Society. He is repented & thats more than many of our American Companies n people that are criminals in our own Nation, communities, Govt. Its life, nothing is perfect, nothing is as it should or could be. Bless his Momma for holding hard to life so as to hold him, hold eachother before they leave this life. Peace be with them 🙏. "Isa"

[@49metal]

And all the men who didn't desert and were killed in battle? He ended up with a lot more than they did. What he got from the Koreans was what he bargained for. What he got from Uncle Sam for his crimes was 25 days in the brig.

[@Aristotelezz]

@@49metal Lots of people are willing to die, and died for it, to get out of north Korea!

[@andreastruble]

Thank you for the Godly humble manner he has had opened up.

[@stoicfreediver]

After 10 beers people do crazy things. Dang. Glad I don’t drink anymore!

[@dannyo3317]

stoicfreediver: Do you drink any less?

[@emjay2045]

And I thought that was a clip of Ross Perot before I read his name. 😶

[@dabprod]

Yeah.....me too. lol

[@zztv15]

😂😂😂😂😂 I was thinking that too

[@threeminuteshate]

Same here. Haha

[@tammardacosta7094]

I've watched this twice and still can't find the words..I'm proud,astounded, disappointed and most of all thankful to witness love, determination and resilience..thank God you're home soldier🫡

[@noahfick6124]

He wrote an amazing book

[@mrpeel3239]

Great interview.

[@JT-qe4pm]

POWERFUL ENDING

[@corenchiereynaldo2417]

14:39 Starting here, this part brought a deepness to my chest and almost cried.

[@lysettesoures2994]

For me only one Message, we paid Hard for the Mistakes we do when we’re Young.So good to see him with his Mother.

[@elleniasiello6271]

Wow, what a story ! Should make a movie about his life .

[@lenovovo]

Lord have mercy, such a good story 60 minutes! Scott Pelley, you're looking good in this segment.

[@Anonymous_47]

May Charles Robert Jenkins and his mother rest in peace in Jesus name amen. ✝️ 1940-2017❤

[@Camel_Jockey]

14:31 - 15:10 ; tears came to my eyes. I don't tear up for much.

[@mr.iforgot3062]

He got to see his mother.

[@beckykent6674]

I feel bad for him. He was scared and was young. You can see it in his eyes how bad he feels.

[@bobjones27]

We all make mistakes in life but this gentleman made such a catastrophic one. It looks like the US Army was very understanding and gracious in giving him a ceremonial courtesy.

[@dekotahrunninghorse9372]

Wow! What an incredible story!!!! Speechless!! What this man and women went through! What so many went through! Thank you for sharing this!!

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

Hard to have sympathy for this guy. He deserted his fellow soldiers and he surrendered to N. Korea. You KNOW that he gave them information about the US military.

[@dh5516]

As a buck Sergeant, he couldn't give up anything they were interested in, or didn't already know. North Korea was just happy to have him for propaganda.

[@valeriesmith5780]

What an incredible story. What a miracle he got out of North Korea.

[@JayBee-cr8jm]

How can a place like North Korea still exist in the year 2024? It's obscene.

[@WZD10016]

From Space South Korea is all lit up at night while North Korea is dark. They’re a third world communist nation living in the Stone Age.

[@rickjensen2833]

Not for long.

[@maplebear6527]

Make it a parking lot

[@kepeliwa]

He is forgiven, bless his heart.

[@michaelolden2682]

Traitor.

[@auggiecontreras8068]

Impossible to know his state of mind. But wow...had he done things the "right" way, he probably would have done three months in jail. Bizarre story for sure 🙏

[@pbryant1360]

What’s sad is this that I grew up seeing his Mom in the local shopping mall. Whenever we would stop and talk, she’d look over you to see if she could see if her son was near. As I grew taller she looked over me on tiptoe.

[@srs3572]

This man made a mistake. He was very young. He admitted his faults. I wish him peace. It is a miracle he survived living in North Korea.

[@gentleeyes]

I'm so glad mama got to see her baby come home!

[@maplebear6527]

I feel sorry for everyone in his circle, except him. I feel for his family, his daughters and his wife.

[@MatthewW713]

I agree. He said he wasn’t a traitor because he came back. But the real reason he came back is because he didn’t like his treatment in NK. He deserted his family and his country.

[@maplebear6527]

@@MatthewW713 God only knows what secrets he gave the North. Even 10 beers deep, WTF was he thinking?!

[@NZKaupoi]

A truly remarkable story ...

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

Everyone deserves redemption. Glad he found it

[@nigellee9824]

Am I the only one who has absolutely no sympathy for this guy….he went there purely of his own making..but he wasn’t the brightest pebble on the beach..

[@maplebear6527]

You're not alone

[@drifter503]

What a story

[@user-zu8nz8mg3z]

Never ever ever give up hope.❤

[@jillr.austin1103]

That man went through hell

[@ladyofthelake223]

I’m so glad he got to see his mom again. That was really sad thinking of all the time he missed.

[@joymcguire]

very sad.

[@SolMorales-lw5cp]

😮 nice to know this

[@fgarrison2910]

Why dont we just let him talk because he has been there we havent. He just said "study".

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

Seems to be the style of the programme,to interpret the person's story for you rather than letting you hear the person's words and make your own judgement.

[@gaymichaelis7581]

Very good story, though it is not a happy thing!!! I didn’t know at all about this man/brother/soldier in the US Army!!! Happy that he got away from the North Koreans and ended up marrying and having two daughters and getting freedom and getting to go home to visit and see his mother before she died, etc.!! And getting to become a farmer. It seems in Japan!!! Very good story!! Thank you again!!! ❤🙏😇👍🌎🇯🇵

[@raphaelgerarddelacruz6774]

I hope that he catched-up with the things he missed for decades.

[@airgunningyup]

one foolish mistake by a 24 yr old .. crazy

[@fhende4845]

Amazing

[@jeanettelang1746]

Glad you made it home

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Jenkins passed away several years ago. He'd been living in Japan. Look for 60 Minutes story about the last US deserter defector in North Korea, James Joseph Dresnok. Material from a documentary about him, Crossing the Line.

[@prieten49]

Jenkins said that Dresnok behaved lke an enforcer for the North Koreans. He often bullied and beat Jenkins at the North Korean's request

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

@@prieten49 and Dresnok called Jenkins a g d liar when told that.

[@prieten49]

@@centredoorplugsthornton4112 This is an interesting exercise for you. Yes, this might sound like a case of "he said, she said," but we have more information to go on. Jenkins left North Korea and could therefore suffer no consequences for telling the truth. Dresnok was loyal to his North Korean benefactors and stayed to the to the very end in North Korea. Now, who has the incentive and ability to tell the truth? Who has the incentive to lie?

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

@@prieten49 who had the bigger family and obligations to North Korea?

[@prieten49]

@@centredoorplugsthornton4112 Does that shed any light on which of the two is telling the truth?

[@selah4719]

My husband is a disabled Vietnam vet, I have no sympathy for this guy. He was and is a coward .

[@maplebear6527]

Yes and your husband is a hero

[@Brap-pl2me]

Typical. The most judgmental are the ones with secondhand experience lol

[@stevemendez3535]

This is so not true! After 39 years, he sounds like he just left the farm! Get out of here!

[@theobserver2309]

Yes indeed. He was definitely not the brightest bulb in the pack. However he was a good husband and father. The ledger of life...

[@AO-46613]

can u believe the army would still arrest this guy after he came home

[@ursulareeg1171]

❤hard story. All the way around.

[@santos8578]

What is more crazy then this is some people want a dictator here in the US!

[@joyceanthony-huff2914]

No they don't. They want a leader who will put Americans first

[@Golgi-Gyges]

Huh?

[@LarsonPetty]

​@@Golgi-GygesYeah, Santos here⬆️ is correct. Lately I've seen more interviews than I am comfortable with regarding this subject. There is a certain US Presidential candidate whose followers posit that a dictatorship doesn't sound too bad, as long as it's their guy in charge. Just a few short years ago, such thoughts were an absurdity, and voicing this sentiment was nothing more than an unthinkable fantasy.

[@dh5516]

​@@LarsonPetty You're lying, of course. Produce one credible reference. Clueless.

[@LarsonPetty]

@@dh5516 Wow. Bit sensitive regarding Dear Leader, aren't we?

[@jeremykelly3633]

Beautiful story 🫶🏾

[@michaelsmith3381]

He did not get stuck in North Korea, he defected there. The only reason he left was the Japanese government petitioned on his behalf so he would not face years in prison. He crossed with all his gear, and provided information to the enemy. Just because he did not like what he got in return and it did not meet his expectations does not mean he should be acquitted for his crimes. He got 30 days in the brig and that is a very light sentence.

[@michaelolden2682]

He is a traitor. Full stop.

[@unclejoe8279]

@@michaelolden2682 An American learns a new word from his superiors.

[@omi_god]

@@michaelolden2682 Desertion is not treason.

[@srj302]

And exactly what was a soldier like him going to reveal that was so secret? He made a mistake. He was stupid. He paid a huge price for something where the harm to the US was negligible. Move on.

[@michaelolden2682]

​@unclejoe8279 what is your point?

[@greyjay9202]

I'm glad the Army saw fit to give him only 25 days in the brig. That man went through decades of hell, for his one bad decision. How lucky he was, to find a loyal, loving woman, in such awful circumstances. And, to have children to love and care for.

[@MrSpock002]

He was a coward to boot. Sorry man, no pity here...

[@Golgi-Gyges]

It seems so.

[@anthonylagunas6737]

He served in the DMZ. Have you served there. I served 3 tours in the DMZ. He was not a coward.

[@Golgi-Gyges]

@@anthonylagunas6737 there's no combat in the DMZ. It may be rough, or tough, but we cannot call it the same as combat.

[@anthonylagunas6737]

@@Golgi-Gyges Now the US does not patrol the DMZ. I spent 2vtours at a place called Camp Liberty Bell. The closest combat unit to N. Korea, we would patrol in the winter. The only thing separating nort and south were markers on post. To patrol you carried a full combat load. Anything could happen at anytime.

[@Golgi-Gyges]

@@anthonylagunas6737 anything can happen at anytime isn't combat. Thanks for your service.

[@ezcleghorn4025]

At first, I had a really hard time with the desertion thing, but God knows he was punished enough for it to last a lifetime and let’s be honest, everybody is insanely stupid and misguided in their 20s. Everybody.

[@genespell4340]

There are millions of us that were not as far around the bend as he was. His horror story should be enough to give others pause when it comes to making similar decisions.

[@ruthiemay423]

Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes.

[@klaytonpeterson]

Yikes!!.... Foolish Decisions that lead...Straight to Hell...😢

[@shanewoods1980]

Turned his back on his men!! 10 beers would not make him make that decision, got what he wanted though

[@maxbuetler4064]

"There are black policemen" Wow there were no black policemen in North Carolina in 1964??

[@Dingo-wc7my]

I recall this tale

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

I dont feel bad for this guy... but his family: yes!

[@outdoorlife5396]

He came from a poor rural area of eastern NC. I heard stories of the Army recruiters paying 20 dollars for an enlistment back then. That was almost a week's pay in most places. I looked at some of my parents paycheck and it was 45 a week back then. Crazy. It is funny what fear will do to you.

[@dabprod]

I enlisted in 1962 as a private E-1, pay was $68 a month.

[@bethelshiloh]

Well at least he realizes he was a fool.

[@kimthomas8717]

😭 such a touching story wow

[@jameswiltse3060]

Wild story !! See what alcohol does lol

[@NoamPitlick-bg8kw]

I never feel sorry for stupid.

[@kathybui1918]

I love this story, he was a young special man though. Anyway, he has a big family and rather lucky with his Japanese woman. We all made mistake once.

[@BibleSamurai]

he got a good wife and two good kids out that nightmare

[@hwanbae6238]

You got lucky to have freedom among the many who didn't and reunioned your wife

[@CV_CA]

Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

[@Slipmahoney21]

He was a sargent… high rank to decide you want to go AWOL.

[@anthonylagunas6737]

A Sergeant is not that high rank.

[@edmunddantes5700]

I served. I've lived. It's funny what you can get used to. Stupid kid choices will color your life in many ways. He's a very lucky fool.

[@bogenious8474]

As a deserter to the enemy , the UCMJ says he goes to prison

[@robertlaabs5066]

Powerful Story! North Korea, what a Nightmare! Thank You!

[@rfreitas3298]

My age, exactly, today... (may 19th 2024

[@tcasual]

WOW

[@thack57]

He, facially, reminds me of Ross Perot.

[@angelamrivera7365]

Mr. Charles Robert Jenkins, may God bless you and your family. With all my respect to you. God bless you. Bigggg Huggggggies to you, your wife, your daughters. And your family in North Carolina. 💛🏡🇺🇸🙏. 60 minutes, thank you so much for this enterview. For me this is when Journalist becomes a Blessing Mission. Thank you!

[@markvargo9331]

You left your post and your country you are. Nothing don’t feel sorry for you . Should have stayed there

[@UAL320]

5:09 How is his Korean?

[@fgarrison2910]

I mean his country of origin has put sanctions on this country.... what would North Koreans do without sanctions. We can blame KJU but woulf removing sanctions help feed their country.

[@dsantamaria713]

I want to feel badly, but somehow, I just can't... I think we should send the entire GOP to NK, and send him back as well... Btw, you didn't pay your debt to anyone, especially Americs, or all those that gave their lives for America, my Dad being one...

[@brianmorger2174]

Interesting as hell !

[@gesundheit602]

From the smiling picture with the other deserters, the fact he had a wife and kids, and his talk of arguing with his captor, it seems like he was actually more of a political prisoner for propaganda purposes. He'd have been shot or under a cell if not.

[@normantessier3379]

Everybody is praising this guy He's nothing but a deserter and he walked into North Korea Voluntarily he will get no praise from me and probably a lot of other people too

[@genespell4340]

He doesn't care. He died

[@anthonylagunas6737]

I bet you never served in the military.

[@GregorySloanCLUChFC]

Totally missed, did he get any army back pay?

[@research1586]

He ain’t right in the head

[@daneblack2593]

Cuz he did say something about drinking right I don't know

[@exclamationpointman3852]

Dumb. Why would I want to hear about this?

[@fgarrison2910]

Well he is alive! Had he been shipped to Vietnam he might be saying a different story.

[@k.p.5736]

Treasonous …!!!