U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins, who deserted his post and crossed into North Korea in January 1965... In January 1965, 24-year-old Jenkins was on patrol near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Fearing he would be sent to fight in the Vietnam War, he walked across the border into North Korea, expecting to seek asylum in the Soviet Union and eventually return home. Instead of being freed, he was held by North Korean authorities for 39 years, 6 months, and 4 days. During this time, he was subjected to harsh living conditions, forced indoctrination, physical abuse, and appeared as an "evil American" villain in North Korean propaganda films. . . . An American soldier crossed into North Korea believing he would eventually find his way home. On January 5, 1965, Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins deserted his unit near the Korean Demilitarized Zone and walked toward North Korean territory carrying a rifle with a white cloth attached to it. He feared dangerous patrols and the possibility of being sent to fight in Vietnam. His plan, as he later explained, was to seek help through the Soviet embassy and arrange his return to the United States. Instead, North Korean authorities detained him, beginning almost forty years of life under a government he had badly misunderstood. Jenkins was 24 and serving with the United States Army in South Korea. Korean War had ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and the border separating the two Koreas remained heavily militarized. Patrols near the frontier were dangerous, while the expanding American involvement in Vietnam created additional anxiety among soldiers. Jenkins later admitted drinking heavily before making his decision. His fears were real, but his intended solution rested on a disastrous misunderstanding. He imagined that communist North Korea might offer a temporary refuge from which he could eventually return to civilian life. He had little understanding of how the country treated foreigners who entered its territory. North Korean soldiers took him into custody, and the hoped-for journey to Soviet embassy never materialized. Jenkins was interrogated and placed under constant supervision. He eventually lived alongside three other American servicemen who had crossed into North Korea: James Dresnok, Jerry Parrish and Larry Abshier. Men were subjected to political indoctrination, restricted movement and demands of a government that regarded them as propaganda assets. In his later memoir, Jenkins described shortages, beatings and psychological pressure. His recollections must be distinguished from independently documented facts, but his prolonged confinement and use in propaganda are well established. North Korean government put Americans to work teaching English and appearing in films. Their foreign appearance made them useful as characters representing hostile Americans in state productions. Jenkins became recognizable to some North Korean audiences through these roles, even though his freedom remained severely restricted. He had exchanged the possibility of military service in Vietnam for life in a country where he could not decide where to live or travel. Years passed without an opportunity to return home. American authorities classified him as a deserter, while his relatives struggled to understand what had happened to him. His circumstances changed in 1980 when North Korean officials introduced him to Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who had been abducted by North Korean agents in 1978. Soga had been taken from Japan with her mother, whose fate remains unresolved. She and Jenkins shared the experience of living in a foreign country without the freedom to leave. They married and eventually had two daughters (Mika and Brinda). Their relationship gave Jenkins a family, but it also created another reason to fear separation. The children grew up in North Korea, and their parents had to consider how any attempt to escape might affect them. #archaeohistories

Sources: New Jersey and Winnipeg are working on a Connor Hellebuyck deal. We will see what develops.

Okay, twist in the plot. Connor Hellebuyck trade talks are escalating it could go down today. Busy day developing. Stay tuned.

Mark Zuckerberg threatened to leave the state of California over the new state's proposed wealth tax on billionaires Zuckerberg famously only makes $1 a year from Meta, but the bill targets a person's entire net worth

My favorite rabbit hole

Millennials, it's time to choose your midife crisis 1. Date a 24 year old 2. Quit drinking and tell everyone you don’t drink anymore 3. Drink heavily 3-4 times a week 4. Train for a marathon and or Hyrox 5. Have a panic baby (with wife you hate) 6. "We're opening the relationship" (she bangs, guy tries too and fails? 7. Get divorced to feel something 8. Get diagnosed with adult ADHD/autism 9. Niche side quests like rock climbing, gardening, handstands 10. Get very into video games