Mr. Charles Jenkins on Tuesday arrived in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, together with his wife Ms. Hitomi Soga, a former abductee to North Korea, and their two daughters after serving a short sentence for desertion from the U.S. Army. Sado is Ms. Soga's hometown. Procedures for Mr. Jenkins' dishonorable discharge from the military are expected to be completed soon, after which he will be free at last.
So far fate has been very unkind to the four of them. We sincerely hope that from now on they will be able to lead happy lives without being restrained by anyone. For this purpose, the prefectural and municipal authorities should do their utmost to help Mr. Jenkins find a job locally, because that is what he says he wants to do, and to assist the daughters in their university studies.
In addition to support from public authorities, it is important that the local people create a warm environment for the family. In a trial by court-martial, Mr. Jenkins received a 30-day prison sentence for having deserted the U.S. Army in South Korea in 1965, when he was a sergeant, and fleeing to North Korea. He served the sentence, which was shortened because of his good behavior, at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka Base. He was then returned to the U.S. Army's Camp Zama.