Richard G. Desautels
Encyclopedia
Sergeant Richard G. Desautels was a United States Army
corporal who was captured on December 1, 1950 at Sonchu by communist forces and not returned by North Korea
at the end of the fighting of the Korean War
. More than half a century later, the People's Republic of China
admitted that Sgt. Desautels died while in captivity in China, and that his remains were buried in Shenyang, China.
. After growing up on a farm, he joined the U.S. Army at age 17. Originally stationed in Fort Lewis
(near Tacoma, Washington), he was transferred to South Korea in August 1950 shortly after North Korea invaded the South. Desautels had a brother, Rolland.
, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit was overrun by a Chinese assault near Kunu-ri, North Korea, on December 1, 1950. At the time, he had attained the rank of corporal.
He was last seen alive at Camp 5 in Pyoktong, North Korea on August 7, 1953.
The People's Republic of China had said no Americans were moved to Red Chinese territory from North Korea. However, authorities from the People's Republic of China gave Pentagon officials details about Desautels in a March 2003 meeting in Beijing contradicting their prior claim. This was not released until 2008 because the information was kept confidential and was only released to the family.
There are reports that North Korea kept some American POWs after the war in retaliation for U.S. refusal to repatriate those American-held POWs who did not want to return. Gen. Mark W. Clark, former American commander of U.S. forces during the war wrote that "we had solid evidence" that hundreds of American POWs were kept after the war, possibly to gain leverage to replace the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the People's Republic of China (Red China) as the holder of the United Nations seat for China.
At least 19 reports from former POWs held with Desautels were made, stating that he was alive. Desautels spoke Chinese and had disputes with his Red Chinese captors. According to Red Chinese reports, he was buried but his body was reburied during a construction project and the location is not known.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
corporal who was captured on December 1, 1950 at Sonchu by communist forces and not returned by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
at the end of the fighting of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. More than half a century later, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
admitted that Sgt. Desautels died while in captivity in China, and that his remains were buried in Shenyang, China.
Early life
Richard Desautels was from Shoreham, VermontShoreham, Vermont
Shoreham is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,222 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.3 square miles , of which 43.5 square miles is land and 2.8 square miles is...
. After growing up on a farm, he joined the U.S. Army at age 17. Originally stationed in Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
(near Tacoma, Washington), he was transferred to South Korea in August 1950 shortly after North Korea invaded the South. Desautels had a brother, Rolland.
Army service in Korea
Desautels was assigned to A Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion2nd Engineer Battalion (United States)
The 2nd Engineer Battalion is an engineering battalion in the United States Army which can trace its lineage back to 1861.-Lineage:Organized 31 December 1861 in the Regular Army at Washington, D.C., from new and existing companies of engineers as a provisional engineer battalion Expanded 14 March-7...
, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit was overrun by a Chinese assault near Kunu-ri, North Korea, on December 1, 1950. At the time, he had attained the rank of corporal.
He was last seen alive at Camp 5 in Pyoktong, North Korea on August 7, 1953.
Return of war dead controversy
The Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. One of the provisions of the agreement was for all sides to return the bodies of soldiers from the opposing side by October 30, 1954, namely to the Korean Communications Zone (KCOMZ). This exchange was carried out as Op Plan 14-54, also known as Operation Glory.The People's Republic of China had said no Americans were moved to Red Chinese territory from North Korea. However, authorities from the People's Republic of China gave Pentagon officials details about Desautels in a March 2003 meeting in Beijing contradicting their prior claim. This was not released until 2008 because the information was kept confidential and was only released to the family.
There are reports that North Korea kept some American POWs after the war in retaliation for U.S. refusal to repatriate those American-held POWs who did not want to return. Gen. Mark W. Clark, former American commander of U.S. forces during the war wrote that "we had solid evidence" that hundreds of American POWs were kept after the war, possibly to gain leverage to replace the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the People's Republic of China (Red China) as the holder of the United Nations seat for China.
Post-war POW
Communist reports are that Desautels became mentally ill and died on April 29, 1953. He was buried in Shenyang, formerly known as Mukden. That area has been cited as where prison(s) holding hundreds of American POWs were kept, possibly as a transfer point to bring them to Russia.At least 19 reports from former POWs held with Desautels were made, stating that he was alive. Desautels spoke Chinese and had disputes with his Red Chinese captors. According to Red Chinese reports, he was buried but his body was reburied during a construction project and the location is not known.
Promotion
During his imprisonment, Desautels was promoted to the rank of sergeant.See also
- United States Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA AffairsUnited States Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA AffairsThe Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs was a special committee convened by the United States Senate during the George H. W. Bush administration to investigate the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, that is, the fate of United States service personnel listed as missing in action during the Vietnam...
- Eugene DeBruinEugene DeBruinEugene Henry DeBruin was a US Air Force staff sergeant, and a member of Air America serving in Laos during the Second Indochina War. "Gene" DeBruin was working as a "kicker" for Air America in 1963 when his C-46 was shot down. He was a POW at a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos until he and other...
Further reading
- NORTHEAST ASIA First Supplement, 1945–1966, A UPA Collection, records of the U.S. State Department in the custody of the National Archives of the United States on matters relating to the Korean War, Japan in the post–World War II period, America’s Far Eastern policy, and the economic redevelopment of the war-torn region.
- Lucier, James P., Insight on the News, The servicemen we left behind - diplomatic politics and US POW/MIA's in China, North Korea, Vietnam, March 30, 1998
External links
- http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=78&sid=1425276
- http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/19/america/NA-GEn-US-China-POW-Revelation.php
- http://korea50.army.mil/casualties/vermont_kias.html
- http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/WireStory?id=5208986&page=4
- http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/244615.php
- http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/671652.html
- http://www.military.com/news/article/china-admits-taking-burying-us-pow.html?col=1186032325324