Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-01
POW Returns,
More
Will Quit Reds
Texas 81 Wants
To Bring japanese
Wife to America
BY the A..oeioted Pres.

SEOUL, Jan. l.-COrpl. CLAUDE
j. Bachelor, a young Texan who
elected to stay with the Com
munists, changed his mind to-
day and said it is quite possible
that other unrepatriated Amer
lean war prisoners will decide to
return home.
Corpl. Bachelor smiled broad
ly as he was returned to the
United Nations Command near
Panmunjom after 81 months as
a prisoner of war.
He told waiting newsmen that
prisoner leaders are armed with
daggers to prevent defections
and that mistrust and fear play
a role in the Communist allegi-
ance Of the remaining 81 Ameri-
cans. / Briton and 327 Koreans
listed as pro-Red.
The 22-year-old corporal from
Kermit. Tex. approached an In
dian guard at ! am. ana asked
to return to the q. N. Command.
Fourteen hours later he was re.
patriated.
Wife Plays An Important Part
Corpl. Bachelors petite ia
panese wife, waiting in Tokyo
to see him. apparently played
an important part in his decision
to abandon communism.
He said her messages. relayed
to him in the Indian-guarded
compound in Korea's neutral
zone had quite a bit to do about
it."
Corpl. Bachelor originally was
scheduled to hold a press con-
ference later today. but it was
postponed until tomorrow. Ten
tatively at 10 am. e pm. Fri
day E.S.T.).
He told newsmen he now be-
lieves very. very little" of the
Communist indoctrination he had
been given in prisoner of war
camps.
He smiled broadly and spoke
easily. without any apparent
nervousness.
He happily gave a thumbs-up
sign for photographers.
He said he had spent a Sleep
less night before deciding to
ask for repatriation. He described
New Years eve in the north
camp as not very cheerful and
without much celebrating.
Believes Others will Return.
"Will other Americans come
out?" he was asked.
quite possibly" he said.
will more than one?"
"Quite possibly"
do you think you made a
wise move in coming back?"
"Yes," he answered and smiled
broadly.
Corpl. Bachelor said he had
been "quite uncomfortable" this
winter but turned aside other
questions as to whether he had
been well treated and well fed
in Communist prisoner camps.
He said it would be hard to say
what he missed most during his
long captivity.
Corpl. Bachelors story matched
in part that of Corpl. Edward
Dickinson Of Big Stone Gap. Va.
who asked for repatriation from
the pro-Communist north camp
two months ago.
Corpl. Dickerson also said
other Americans quite likely
would change their minds.
Neither man named names.
They indicated that prisoners
who might want to leave would
not broadcast the information.
Indian Skeptical on Arms.
An Indian command spokes-
man said he. thought it most un-
likely that prisoner leaders are
armed or that a POW who
wanted to ask for repatriation
would be unable to do so. He
said:
1.-THE north camp always has
been very quiet and orderly and
life there seems to be much like
that Of a small village"
Corpl. Batel1elor said he had
wanted to return home for a
month, but did not ask for re-
patriation December % when
the Allies broadcast come home"
appeals because "there would
have been violence"
He said pro-Communist Ko-
rean prisoners "masSed at the
gate" to prevent any one from
leaving.
r.