Clarence Adams (Korean War)

Clarence Adams (January 1, 1930 – 1999) was an African-American GI during the Korean War. He was captured on November 29, 1950, when the People's Liberation Army overran his all-black artillery unit's position. Adams was held as a POW until the end of the war. Instead of returning to the United States during Operation Big Switch, Adams was one of 21 American soldiers who chose to settle in the People's Republic of China.[1] As a result of their decision, these 21 Americans were considered defectors.

Clarence Adams
Born(1930-01-01)January 1, 1930
Memphis, Tennessee
Died1999 (aged 68–69)
Allegiance United States (1947–1950)
 China (1950–1957; defector)
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1947–1950 (defected)
Rank Corporal

Early life

Adams grew up poor in Memphis, Tennessee.[2] He dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Army in 1947, at the age of 17.[3]

Korean War

After basic training, Adams became an infantry machine gunner. He was sent to Korea shortly after the war between North and South erupted in June 1950 and was posted to Battery A of the 503rd Artillery Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Division. This was his second tour in Korea, as he had first been posted there in 1948.[2]

Adams took classes in Communist political theory, and afterwards lectured other prisoners in the camps. Because of this and other collaboration with his captors, his prosecution by the Army was likely upon his repatriation. During the Vietnam War, Adams made propaganda broadcasts for Radio Hanoi from their Chinese office, telling black American soldiers not to fight:

You are supposedly fighting for the freedom of the Vietnamese, but what kind of freedom do you have at home, sitting in the back of the bus, being barred from restaurants, stores and certain neighborhoods, and being denied the right to vote. ... Go home and fight for equality in America.

Adams married a Chinese woman and lived in China until 1966.

Return to the United States

Adams returned to the United States from China via Hong Kong on May 26, 1966, citing that he missed his mother.[4] The House Un-American Activities Committee subpoenaed Adams upon his return but did not question him publicly.[5] He later started a Chinese restaurant business in Memphis.

Adams died in 1999.[6] His autobiography An American Dream: The Life of an African American Soldier and POW Who Spent Twelve Years in Communist China was posthumously published in 2007 by his daughter Della Adams and Lewis H. Carlson.[7]

See also

References
  1. Adams, Clarence (June 6, 2007). An American Dream: The Life of an African American Soldier and POW Who Spent Twelve Years in Communist China. University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 978-1558495951.
  2. Gillam, James. "A POW's Return to America".
  3. "An American Dream: The Life of an African American Soldier and POW Who Spent Twelve Years in Communist China".
  4. "Chicago Tribune article May 26th 1966".
  5. "Defectors: By Mutual Consent". TIME.com. 15 July 1966. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  6. Heaver, Stuart (27 May 2016). "Why an American POW chose Mao's China over home". Post Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. Michael Lollar. "The long road home". MCA. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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