1st Reconnaissance Squadron 9th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division: The Story of PFC Larry Allen Abshier
An Incomprehensible Decision
In May of 1962, Private First Class Larry Allen Abshier of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron 9th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division made a fateful decision that would forever alter the course of his life. Driven by reasons unknown, he crossed the border into North Korea, becoming the first American soldier to defect after the Korean War.Isolation and Defection
PFC Abshier joined a small group of American military defectors, including WEB Dresnok, Jerry Wayne Parrish, and Larry Allen Abshier, who lived in relative isolation within North Korea. Among them, WEB Dresnok became the most well-known after his defection to the South in 1962.Charles Jenkins: A Notable Defector
In 1965, PFC Abshier was followed by another American soldier, Charles Jenkins, who also crossed the border into North Korea. Jenkins' defection is particularly notable as he spent over 40 years in captivity before being released in 2004.The decision made by PFC Larry Allen Abshier and the other American defectors remains a subject of historical fascination and speculation. It is a somber reminder of the harsh realities and personal struggles that can arise during times of conflict.
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