Sae Joon Park, a 55-year-old U.S. Army veteran, faced an emotional farewell as he left the country he called home for nearly 50 years. This moment proved to be the hardest in his life — surpassing the trauma of combat, years of struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and even imprisonment.
On Monday, Park, a green-card holder, self-deported to South Korea. His removal order stemmed from charges related to drug possession and failure to appear in court, offenses that originated over 15 years ago. He attributes these issues to his unaddressed PTSD, borne from his time in the military.
“I can’t believe that this is happening in America,” Park shared in an interview with NPR before his departure. “That blows me away, like a country that I fought for.”
The challenges faced by noncitizen veterans navigating the legal system can be particularly harsh, a reality that has intensified during the Trump administration’s push for increased deportations. In light of these policies, cases like Park’s have drawn significant attention.
Born in South Korea, Park moved to the U.S. at age 7 to reunite with his mother in Miami. A year later, they relocated to Los Angeles, where Park spent the rest of his formative years. Lacking positive influences during his upbringing, he looked up to his uncle, a colonel in the South Korean military. After high school, Park made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army, seeking direction in life and a chance to serve his adopted country.
After completing basic training at the age of 20, Park was deployed to Panama, unknowingly becoming part of the 1989 U.S. invasion, known as Operation Just Cause, aimed at overthrowing Manuel Noriega’s regime. One afternoon, during a meal with his platoon, Panamanian soldiers opened fire. Park retaliated but soon felt a sharp pain in his back, realizing he had been shot. “Oh my God, I’m paralyzed,” he thought, consumed by fear that he might be dying.
Following this traumatic incident, Park was transported back to the U.S. He was honorably discharged and awarded a Purple Heart for his service. However, while his physical wounds healed, the psychological scars remained. “I was suffering from PTSD severely,” he recalled, describing nightmares and constant fear that plagued his daily life. Unaware that he was dealing with PTSD, he failed to seek help, and the untreated trauma drove him to drugs in a misguided attempt to cope.
“I had to find some kind of a cure for what I was going through,” Park explained, reflecting on his struggles during his 20s and 30s. Eventually, he became addicted to crack cocaine, which led to a fateful encounter in New York when he was arrested while meeting a dealer. Fearing the repercussions of his addiction and the legal system, he skipped a court appearance, causing a chain reaction that would haunt him for years.
With charges of possession and bail jumping, Park’s immigration status became increasingly precarious. He later realized that citizenship was not a priority for him, not fully understanding the consequences of being a noncitizen. Although the U.S. has provisions for expedited naturalization for veterans, Park’s discharge before serving 12 months in the military made him ineligible. Moreover, the invasion of Panama was not classified as a hostile period, further complicating his situation.
Park served three years in prison starting in 2009. During this time, he found himself free from drug use, realizing he had lost all desire for it. After his release, he relocated to Hawaii, where his family resided, and began working at a car dealership in Honolulu. For the next decade, Park took pride in raising his son and daughter, celebrating their growth into kind and successful adults — a highlight of his life.
Although Park received a removal order after his prison sentence, he was initially allowed to stay in the U.S., subject to yearly check-ins with immigration authorities. However, this status changed recently when, during a meeting with ICE officials in Hawaii, he was warned of impending detention and deportation unless he voluntarily left in the coming weeks.
Faced with this ultimatum, Park booked his flight back to South Korea. In his final days in the U.S., he cherished moments with family and friends, including playing golf and enjoying Hawaii’s renowned garlic shrimp. With a heavy heart, he accepted the reality that he might never see his 85-year-old mother again.
On Monday morning, Park prepared to leave, sharing heartfelt goodbyes with his loved ones. As he boarded the plane, he reflected on the contrasting circumstances of his young self, departing for the U.S., and the adult he had become, now leaving for a country he struggled to remember.
Despite the hardships he faced, Park expressed no regrets about his military service or the sacrifices he made. “Even after everything I went through, I don’t regret joining the military or getting shot,” he affirmed. “It’s part of my life, my journey. It’s made me who I am today.”
image source from：npr
