It is in the unofficial handbook of all mothers to always think the best of one’s child. Even when they get themselves into a dangerous and precarious situation. Claudine Gates of Racine, Wisconsin, knows this firsthand. Her son Private Travis King reportedly willfully defected to North Korea while being stationed in South Korea.
Claudine is left in disbelief about her son's alleged actions. She just wants him to return safely to the United States. She believes they can work through anything else that is going on.
“I can’t see Travis doing anything like that,” Claudine stated. She had just spoken to her son a couple of days ago. A mother’s love knows no bounds. “I’m so proud of him. I just want him to come home, come back to America,” she added.
Travis got into some trouble while stationed in South Korea and was facing military disciplinary charges for assault. He had already served some time while deployed. He was being transferred back to the US, but instead skipped his flight once past the security checkpoint at the airport.
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Travis joined up with a tourist group that was being given a tour of the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. This is when he decided to run into the North.
Mikaela Johansson of Sweden was on the tour and claimed he laughed as he dashed off into the isolated kingdom. The White House, the Department of Defense, the State Department, and the United Nations are all working together to rectify this bizarre international situation.
