Veteran's Life-Long Search For His Kids Takes A Turn After He Receives One Strange 'Tip'
September 10, 1967, was likely one of the happiest days of Allen Thomas’ life. After all, his partner, Connie, had just given birth to twins James and Sandra. The happiness continued a year later, when Allen married Connie and adopted the son she’d had in a previous relationship. But the good times were, sadly, not to last. A series of events in the following years blew Allen’s life apart. And in an effort to pick up the pieces, Allen embarked on the journey of a lifetime — one that can only be described as epic.
A fresh-faced G.I.
Allen's epic tale began back in 1966 when he departed New Hampshire for South Korea. He was just 19 years old at the time, and he was sent as a fresh-faced G.I. to Korea’s demilitarized zone. Even though he was technically in a no-conflict area, it was clear that the relations between North and South Korea were tense.
A life-changing encounter
It was Allen's job to work on military helicopters, and his duties were mainly confined to the daytime. When he wasn't working, the bright lights of Seoul drew Thomas to the city, as they did many young soldiers in South Korea. And it was in Seoul that Allen met someone who changed his life forever.
Sparks flew
In fact, Allen encountered a woman by the name of Pae Seong-Kuem at the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Club. Sparks immediately flew, too, despite Kuem being five years his senior, and they struck up a relationship. As mentioned, Kuem, whom Allen affectionately called “Connie,” had a son from a previous relationship, but it wasn’t long before she was pregnant again — with Allen's baby.
They became a family
Happily, while the Summer of Love was sweeping across America, Allen and Connie were staging their own love-in in Korea. And it was only sweetened by the arrival of James and Sandra in September 1967. So when Allen's tour came to an end in 1969, the stage seemed set for the newlyweds and their children to begin their life together in the U.S.
