A Wisconsin man's family is struggling to understand what made him dash across the border into North Korea.
KENOSHA, Wis. --
"I can't see him doing that intentionally if he was in his right mind," King's maternal grandfather, Carl Gates, told The Associated Press from his Kenosha, Wisconsin, home. "Travis is a good guy. He wouldn't do nothing to hurt nobody. And I can't see him trying to hurt himself."King was supposed to be returned to the U.S. this week to face military discipline after serving nearly two months in a South Korea prison on assault charges.
Carl Gates said his grandson joined the military three years ago out of a desire to serve his country and because he "wanted to do better for himself." He has an older brother who is a police officer and a cousin who is in the Navy.SEE MORE: US soldier facing military disciplinary actions flees to North Korea while touring a border villageKing was facing discharge from the Army because he was convicted of a crime in a foreign country, according to a U.S.
According to the U.S. official, King was escorted to the airport on Monday by two U.S. service members. He was supposed to board an American Airlines flight to Texas that was scheduled to leave at 5:40 p.m. Upon arrival, he was to be met by military personnel who would escort him to Fort Bliss. As the tour was ending, the group members were milling about and taking photos. That's when Leslie saw King running "really fast." She thought it was a stunt.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Travis King faced assault allegations, damaged police car before running to North KoreaArmy private Travis King was accused of punching a man several times in the face at a club on September 25 last year, Seoul court records indicate.
Read more »
Who is Travis King, the American soldier detained in North Korea?The 23-year-old serviceman was visiting the so-called peace village of Panmunjom with a group tour when he reportedly ran 'really fast' into North Korean territory. King had recently been released from service in the U.S. Army, having served in South Korea as a private.
Read more »
Travis King spent 48 days in prison in South Korea before bolting across border to NorthKing had been escorted by the military to an airport outside Seoul for possible further disciplinary action in the U.S. before ending up on the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea.
Read more »
Mounting US worries over Private Travis King after silence from North KoreaThe United States on Thursday voiced mounting concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea two days ago, saying Pyongyang had a history of mistreating captured Americans.
Read more »
Travis King disappeared into a North Korea more isolated than everWhen U.S. soldier Travis King sprinted across the border into North Korea from the South this week, he disappeared into a North Korea where lingering COVID-19 concerns and restrictions have made the already secretive country more isolated than ever.
Read more »
New timeline reveals Travis King’s bizarre behavior before mad dash into North KoreaNew timeline reveals Travis King’s peculiar behavior before mad dash in North Korea
Read more »