Five U.N. soldiers defect to China: 1956
Following a cease fire in the Korean War and an exchange of prisoners, 23 captured U.S. soldiers and one British soldier elected to remain in communist-led countries (along with 327 South Koreans.
These five are posing in the courtyard of the Beijing People’s University in 1956. From left to right: Andrew Fortuna of Detroit, Mi.; Clarence Adams of Memphis, Tenn.; Andrew Condon of Bathgate, Scotland; Larane Sullivan of Santa Barbara, Ca. and Jack Dunn of Baltimore, Md.
As the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s continued in the United States, the prisoners who refused repatriation were labeled as “brainwashed” and fear of communists’ ability to shape people’s minds was spread across the country.
However a number were African Americans who did not wish to return to face racial discrimination. Others agreed with their hosts that communism represented a better hope for mankind than the capitalism of the United States.
Most ultimately had difficulty adapting to the culture and language of the host country and eventually returned to the United States.
Prisoner repatriation was one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the long cease-fire negotiations between the forces of the United Nations and those of China and North Korea.
In June 1953, the two sides agreed that no prisoner who did not wish to be repatriated would be forced to do so (this had long been a sticking point in negotiations, with the Chinese and North Koreans wanting all prisoners returned to their home countries).
Prisoners who did not wish to go back to their home countries would be given 90 days in a neutral compound near Panmunjom to reconsider before being allowed to stay in enemy territory. Following the armistice that was signed on 27 July 1953, effectively ending the Korean War (South Korea never signed), the main prisoner exchange was free to proceed.
Two of the refusals, Corporal Claude Batchelor and Corporal Edward Dickenson, changed their minds before the 90-day window expired. Both were court-martialed and sentenced to prison terms, with Batchelor serving 4½ years and Dickenson 3½ years.
This left 22 United Nations soldiers who voluntarily stayed with the Communists after the final exchange of prisoners. The 21 Americans were given dishonorable discharges.
This had the unintended consequence of rendering them immune to court-martial when they finally returned to the United States (which the majority eventually did), because they were no longer active-duty military. However, they were still criminally culpable for any acts of collaboration or offenses against fellow prisoners committed while they were POWs.
About 4 a.m. on February 24, 1954, a train carrying the 21 American defectors rumbled across the Yalu River into China. The Chinese soon shipped some of the men off to study language and politics. Others went to mills, factories, and farms across Eastern China.
For more information and related images, see flic.kr/s/aHsmaXdZck
Photo by Lois Mitchjeon. The image was distributed by Associated Press.
Five U.N. soldiers defect to China: 1956
Following a cease fire in the Korean War and an exchange of prisoners, 23 captured U.S. soldiers and one British soldier elected to remain in communist-led countries (along with 327 South Koreans.
These five are posing in the courtyard of the Beijing People’s University in 1956. From left to right: Andrew Fortuna of Detroit, Mi.; Clarence Adams of Memphis, Tenn.; Andrew Condon of Bathgate, Scotland; Larane Sullivan of Santa Barbara, Ca. and Jack Dunn of Baltimore, Md.
As the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s continued in the United States, the prisoners who refused repatriation were labeled as “brainwashed” and fear of communists’ ability to shape people’s minds was spread across the country.
However a number were African Americans who did not wish to return to face racial discrimination. Others agreed with their hosts that communism represented a better hope for mankind than the capitalism of the United States.
Most ultimately had difficulty adapting to the culture and language of the host country and eventually returned to the United States.
Prisoner repatriation was one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the long cease-fire negotiations between the forces of the United Nations and those of China and North Korea.
In June 1953, the two sides agreed that no prisoner who did not wish to be repatriated would be forced to do so (this had long been a sticking point in negotiations, with the Chinese and North Koreans wanting all prisoners returned to their home countries).
Prisoners who did not wish to go back to their home countries would be given 90 days in a neutral compound near Panmunjom to reconsider before being allowed to stay in enemy territory. Following the armistice that was signed on 27 July 1953, effectively ending the Korean War (South Korea never signed), the main prisoner exchange was free to proceed.
Two of the refusals, Corporal Claude Batchelor and Corporal Edward Dickenson, changed their minds before the 90-day window expired. Both were court-martialed and sentenced to prison terms, with Batchelor serving 4½ years and Dickenson 3½ years.
This left 22 United Nations soldiers who voluntarily stayed with the Communists after the final exchange of prisoners. The 21 Americans were given dishonorable discharges.
This had the unintended consequence of rendering them immune to court-martial when they finally returned to the United States (which the majority eventually did), because they were no longer active-duty military. However, they were still criminally culpable for any acts of collaboration or offenses against fellow prisoners committed while they were POWs.
About 4 a.m. on February 24, 1954, a train carrying the 21 American defectors rumbled across the Yalu River into China. The Chinese soon shipped some of the men off to study language and politics. Others went to mills, factories, and farms across Eastern China.
For more information and related images, see flic.kr/s/aHsmaXdZck
Photo by Lois Mitchjeon. The image was distributed by Associated Press.