Robert Neff from the Marmot’s Hole has posted an interesting article in the Asia Times about the 1982 defection of PFC Joseph White to North Korea. PFC White would remain in North Korea for only three more years until he supposedly died while drowning in a river. The reason for PFC White’s defection has been a matter of controversy for years.Â
Here is the theory from the article that I would put money on:
There is another theory. One American soldier claims that White fell in love with a North Korean agent in a club in the village of Bongilchon and that she disappeared on the same day White did. Allegedly she either guided him to the North Korean positions or she met him in the North.
PFC White was an introvert and when he enlisted in the military and was posted in Korea; he became a big fan of the ville culture. PFC White probably never had such attention showered on from women before and enjoyed the attention from the Korean women in the ville so much that he even wrote letters home to his mom about it. I don’t think it is too far fetched of an idea that a woman is the reason he defected.Â
I have seen soldiers do many stupid and criminal things due to juicy girls in the ville, so the possibility that PFC White defected due to juicy girl is definitely plausible to me. Anyway interesting read and I encourage everyone to check it out.
Popularity: 2%
6:01 am on February 23rd, 2007 1
I already posted this at Marmot’s hole:
“I was in the ROK in 1982 and in the Army. As I recall it was classic case of the a soldier told he couldn’t see his ‘yobo’ (not used in the Korean sense, with the GIs it was a kept woman).
He was shacked up with a girl from one of the clubs. Had trouble with his 1st SGT and had his pass pulled.
I have seen many a fellow do really stupid things when facing separation from their girl friend.
The dating a north korean agent sounds like urban myth stuff.”
I’m sure you, GI Korea, have seen lots of this too. A common, while sad, tale of a young soldier who messes his life up because of the ville.
12:32 am on February 24th, 2007 2
Hear pretty much the same story about White, I had also heard a rumor that his body had been found floating down the Imjin with his throat slit, perhaps this is untrue..
7:12 am on February 24th, 2007 3
Rich,
Some people that I know that served in Korea in the early 80’s told me the same thing but I have never read anything that proves that. I think it is just an urban legend that was passed around to discourage soldiers from defecting.
3:09 pm on February 24th, 2007 4
I remembered when White defected to North, his mother was in denial. Her exact words were “My son is Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich all American boy.”
6:44 pm on February 24th, 2007 5
He may have been but I have seen plenty of American boys lives go down the drain quickly because of drinky girls, so I’m sure the yobos back 82 altered peoples behavior just as much then as the juicy girls do now.
12:10 pm on March 18th, 2007 6
I was at Casey when that shithead went North and I heard the same old thing. It was a YOBO and top was on his ass.
6:50 am on April 10th, 2008 7
I was Division CQ the evening PFC White was captured. I was ordered to hand deliver the news of his capture to three Battalion HQs, my own, the 122nd Signal Bn at Camp casey Korea. The message that went out to our division commanders that morning was “US soldier captured by North Korean infiltrators on DML” It is my understanding that IR photography confirms White being lead away from Oulette at gunpoint, and the lock was shot off his gaurdpost from outside, not inside as otherwise claimed.
PFC is a POW and should be treated as such. The fact he had a pass pulled (who didn’t) and he didn’t get along famously with his sergeabt (who did) and that he had scores of propganda leaflets (who didn’t) in his footlocker - are all red herrings by a government who is perfectly happy leaving a man behind. They didn’t want to start a war, period. Now I say we bring White home. If he died, it was while in North korean custody…but his death, like his capture has most likely been greatly exagerated.
SOUND OFF 2nd D !! Leave No man behind !!
7:47 am on April 10th, 2008 8
According to Robert Neff’s article the lock was shot from the inside which I’m sure ballistic analysis would be able to confirm if it was an M16 or not that shot it. Also sensitive items were left in the outpost that I would presume a North Korean raiding team would have taken instead of leaving behind. Finally there was witnesses that saw him walk across the DMZ by himself before being grabbed by North Koreans on the North’s side of the MDL.
According to the information available the kid defected and it appears even his family accepts this now.
7:30 am on August 8th, 2008 9
Pfc White defected plain and simple. I was stationed their in 82. From the land of the morning calm. To fishheads and rice 24/7. Have a nice life.
10:42 am on August 8th, 2008 10
“a North Korean agent in a club in the village of Bongilchon…”
We are talking book rights here…