Quote from: Deborah on February 03, 2018, 05:22:11 PM
Yes. That happened when I was there in 1982 and he was in my battalion. For about a week after he went over he was on the giant loudspeakers reading NK propaganda and calling us things like capitalist running dogs, LOL. That was good entertainment for us during night ambush patrols in the DMZ.
They made him a captain in the NK Army. Then in 1986, he reportedly drowned in a swimming accident.
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Oh it has happened more times than what you think. A solider meets a pretty Korean Girl and then next thing they are doing is defecting to the north. But it is always the same ol' story though in that they died and were sent back in a body bag.
Seriously though, Korea was a sucky station until you got there and then learned a little. I was stationed in the US before I ETSed and Korea was better than my last six months stateside. I requested Germany because my Recruiter told me to. My Drill Sergeants and other instructors laughed at me when I told them there must be some mistake. After being in Germany and Europe for a little while Korea is where you want to go. There is history no matter where you are stationed. You need to have respect instead of contempt for anyone anywhere. I have heard stories about the Pusan Perimeter in the first days of the "war" from Koreans that were actually fighting along with the UN and Americans. He came from North Korea with his family at the age of 16. Pusan was a gravy job but in actuality it will be just like it was in the fifties and probably the last hold out if the north ever invades. After catching North Korean TV even in the early nineties compared to shows on South Korean TV it was like watching TV from the 40s from NK to watching soaps, game shows and so on in South Korea. Anyone that was there in the nineties, who don't know Nami's song Like an Indian Doll or Lee Sung Chul and Magi Mac Concert? I don't have Korean letters on my QWERTY board but I still remember the songs. I liked Korea and loved the far east and why I was stationed there for so long.
That one dude I was telling you all about that was from North Korea, taught me a lot about Korea. He hated the Kims. Actually he is the reason I was there so long. He worked for the UN. I had no reason the leave anyway and liked the culture. I still have cassette tapes from Korea. what better way to learn? What better way to learn and this guy was a hard ass. He would drop me off in the middle of Pusan, Seoul, Teagu, Weagan, Chinhae and other places and tell me to find my way back. Sometimes I did and sometimes he would have to come find me. LOL. He never could find me. But all I was just a civilian worker.
Korea was an experience and god bless the Korean people even the North Koreans because this one man was North Korean and his family defected. He and his family and I even met his father and mother appreciated me as an American. I respected them more because I was so young at the time. He told me to call him Hyeungnim if I am getting that right after 30 years. There is a lot I can't remember but I called his mom and dad the same as he did. After a while he started calling me "Yeodongsang". It was somewhat accepted more than here and a little extra money never hurt anyone. Right? Yeah he knew about me.
I still don't eat everything off my plate because it seems kind of rude. Back then if you left hungry then the host or hostess did not provide enough food. So you always left a little on the plate and never ever leave your chopsticks in food not eaten. You always put them on the side. I am sure Barbie will testify to this. I loved South Korea. I wish I could marry a South Korean man and go back. I think that was the very first place I ever called home totally away from home.
I really miss South Korea and have for almost 30 years. I would love to go back and have a couple of times as a tourist. Now I am older maybe I need to dress totally for the part to maybe find a husband?
Damn I really don't know where all that came from? All I know is that I love South Korea and would live there in a heart beat if given the chance.