Army veteran self-deports after nearly 50 years in the U.S. : NPR

Earlier this month, the immigration authorities gave Sae Joon Pok an ultimatum: leaving it voluntarily or facing detention and expulsion.

Sae Joon Park

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Sae Joon Park

For the 55 -year -old American army veteran, Sae Joon Park, was the most difficult moment in his life. Do not get fired. Not the years that fight against post-traumatic stress disorder or dependence. No prison. He left the United States, a country he called at home for almost five decades.

Monday, Park, a green card holder, self-supported in South Korea. His referral order is the result of charges related to the possession of drugs and of non-comparison in court over 15 years ago-offenses which, he said, come from years of untreated SSPT.

Park’s story reflects both the challenges of life after the fight and the perils with which non -citizens are confronted if they are taken in the legal system – the realities made more severe in the push of the Trump administration for record deportations.

“I cannot believe that it happens in America,” said Park at NPR in an interview before his departure. “It moves me away, like a country for which I fought.”

American immigration and customs application did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

‘I realized that I was killed’

Park came to the United States of South Korea at 7 to reach his mother in Miami. A year later, the pair moved to Los Angeles, where Park would spend the rest of his childhood.

Growing up, Park said he didn’t have many positive influences. But he looked up at his uncle, a colonel from the South Korean army. After high school, the park enlisted in the American army.

“I wanted a direction and [to] Better myself and perhaps help serve the country, “he said.

When Park, 20, finished the basic formation, he was deployed in Panama – ignoring that he would soon be part of the 1989 American invasion known as the Operation Just Cause to overthrow the regime of Manuel Noriega.

One afternoon, while lunch with his peloton, the Panamanian soldiers began to draw,, According to Park. He started shooting when suddenly, he felt strong pain in his back.

“I realized that I had been shot,” he said. “So I think:” Oh my God, I am paralyzed. “And then thinking:” Oh my God, I am not only paralyzed.

Park was shot dead twice. He said he had survived thanks to two miracles. The first was that an American veteran lived a few doors and was able to rush it in the hospital. The second was that one of the balls struck Park’s dog dog, absorbing part of the impact.

Sae Joon Park

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Sae Joon Park

“ I had to find a kind of remedy for what I was going through ”

Park was transported by plane to the United States, honorably released and awarded a purple heart. Although his body started to heal, he said that his mind had not done it.

“I seriously suffered from the SSPT,” he added. “Sleeping nightmares to love, just having scary thoughts all the time. I couldn’t watch horror movies, could not hear noisy noises.”

At the time, Park did not know that he was dealing with the SSPT. Thus, he never asked for help and the trauma slowly wreaked havoc. He finally turned to drugs to face.

“I had to find a kind of remedy for what I was going through,” he said.

Throughout the twenty and thirties, he struggled against a crack dependence. One night in New York, while meeting a dealer, the police appeared and arrested Park. Later, he jumped one of his justice audiences.

“I just couldn’t stay clean,” he said. “So finally, when the judge said to me:” Do not come back to my court with dirty urine “, which I knew that I would do it, I was afraid and I jumped under bail.”

Park was accused of possession of a controlled substance and a deposit jumping, which derailed his chances of naturalization or of obtaining a relief from an expulsion order.

Park said that for a long time, citizenship was not a priority because he did not fully understand the consequences of remaining non -citizen. Although the United States offers accelerated naturalization for those who serve honorably in the American army for at least a year, or only one day in wartime, the park was released before having served 12 months and the invasion of Panama was unasomed as a period of hostility.

“ I must accept the fact that this is probably the last time I will see it ”

Park was in prison for three years from 2009. The drugs were easily at hand, but he said that he had lost all desire for them.

After his release, Park moved to Hawaii, where his family lived at the time. He found work with a car dealer in Honolulu, where he spent 10 years while raising his son and daughter. Watching them become nice and successful adults was his greatest blessing, he said.

Park (L) and his son (R) during a trip to Kauai, Hawaii.

Sae Joon Park

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Sae Joon Park

After the prison, Park received a referral order But was authorized to stay in the United States and required annual checks with immigration agents – which is typical for people that ice does not consider a priority for expulsion.

It changed earlier this month. During a meeting with local ice officials in Hawaii, Park said that he had been warned that he would be held and expelled unless he left voluntarily in the coming weeks.

Thus, Park reserved his flight and spent his last days in the United States – playing a last round of golf with his friends, savoring the famous Hawaii garlic shrimp and enjoying time with her children and an 85 -year -old mother.

“I have to accept the fact that this is probably the last time I will see it,” he said.

Monday morning, Park has embarked on her loved ones. Then, just as he had a child, Park rose aboard an airplane alone – this time, at the base of a country which he barely remembers, leaving behind him fought for.

“Even after all that I experienced, I do not regret joining the army or being shot,” he said. “It’s part of my life, my trip. It is me who I am today.”