Politics & Government

Son of Palo Alto Man Detained in North Korea Wants Him Home for Thanksgiving

Merrill Newman, 85, is Stanford/UC Berkeley alum who taught at high schools in Berkeley and Livermore.

The son of a Palo Alto retiree detained in North Korea since Oct. 26 spoke to reporters this week from his home in Southern California, saying that Newman had a "difficult" discussion with North Korean officials about his experiences during the 1950-53 war between U.S.-led United Nations forces and North Korea and ally China. 

Jeffrey Newman of Pasadena told the Associated Press he's worried about his father Merrill Newman's health — he needs heart medication — and he wants him home for Thanksgiving with his grandchildren.

Merrill Newman, 85, received his bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's in education from Stanford and taught at high schools in Berkeley and Livermore before retiring and moving to a the Channing House retirement community in Palo Alto.

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The detention comes about a year after North Korea detained another American and as the U.S. State Department warns in a formal notice that Americans should avoid travel to the country.

Newman was traveling with his friend, longtime Stanford professor Bob Hamrdla, who was allowed to return. Hamrdla said in a statement that "there has to be a terrible misunderstanding" and asked for Newman to be quickly returned to his family.

Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jeffrey Newman said he believed North Korea would eventually release his father after realizing that all they have is an "elderly traveler, a grandfather with a heart condition."

"We don't know what this misunderstanding is all about," he told the AP. "All we want as a family is to have my father, my kids' grandfather, returned to California so he can be with his family for Thanksgiving."


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