I'm reminded that Pres Truman made the incredibly difficult decision to prolonge the already unpopular Korean War in 1951 in order to get the Chinese and North Koreans to comply with "voluntary repatriation" - permitting North Korean and Chinese POWs to decide their own fate
Truman was concerned that if the US returned all POWs, many would go into labor camps or be sentenced to death for surrendering or for cooperating with the UN, or as he put it: “misery and bloodshed to the eternal dishonor of the United States and of the United Nations"
So, the war lasted another 2 years
In the end, the Communists agreed to voluntary repatriation and 50,000 Chinese & North Koreans found new homes
Of course, Truman & later Ike had political/propaganda reasons behind sticking to their guns, but I can't stop thinking about this
In the end, the Communists agreed to voluntary repatriation and 50,000 Chinese & North Koreans found new homes
Of course, Truman & later Ike had political/propaganda reasons behind sticking to their guns, but I can't stop thinking about this
"eternal dishonor"
It would be nice to think we could think in those terms about those who risked everything to help us.
I dunno, my brain is all still a mess about this. I am far from an expert & am trying to keep my mouth shut. I just want us to do the right thing.
It would be nice to think we could think in those terms about those who risked everything to help us.
I dunno, my brain is all still a mess about this. I am far from an expert & am trying to keep my mouth shut. I just want us to do the right thing.
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