"John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<40F33451.4060106@yahoo.com>...

> Everything I've said points to it. Supposedly he walked away from his
> patrol, and the only stories I've read on the matter are pretty certain 
> he deserted. And since he hasn't come forward to say anything 
> (particularly after going to 'freedom') it's probably true.
> 
After writing this I decided to look up some stuff, and it's an
interesting story. Supposedly while on patrol he heard a suspicious
noise and went to check it out, and never returned. Later letters were
received by the government stating that he had defected. The letters
themselves have disappeared and were never shown to the family, who
obviously could have done a private handwriting analysis. Also, the
letters were addressed 'dear mother' or some such, when he always said
'Mama', and were signed 'Charles' when he used 'Robert'. Other
'evidence' is that before returning to Korea from leave he told his
friends and family that he'd never see them again.

I've wondered why the US doesn't offer amnesty in exchange for
information. He taught at the spy school (as did his Japanese wife)
and should be able to provide some information that's of value. Or was
he a spy whose mission went awry, and that's why the US is so hostile
towards him? Or was he just a young man that made a really bad
decision (one justification I read was that he wanted to avoid going
to Vietnam; but, then, at that time the horrors of Vietnam were not
readily known).

John W.