Accused but cleared, O-2 called back to duty

[unhappycamper]

Accused but cleared, O-2 called back to duty
By M.R. Kropko - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 10, 2008 7:47:38 EDT

CLEVELAND — A congressman on Monday protested the return to duty of an Army officer who was cleared more than two years ago of killing two Iraqi civilians, saying he deserves more from the military that falsely accused him.

U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ask that 1st Lt. Erick Anderson’s return-to-duty order be reconsidered.

“It is unconscionable that after all Anderson has been through — at the hands of the Army no less — that the Army thinks he should give it another go as if all is fine and all is forgiven,” LaTourette wrote. “This young man lost almost two years of his life defending himself against scurrilous and false murder charges.”

Anderson, of Twinsburg, Ohio, and now living in Iowa, separated from the Army in 2006 and went from active duty to inactive reserve. His lawyer Neal Puckett said Monday that Anderson has no comment.

Maj. Maria Quon, an Army spokeswoman, said Monday that military privacy regulations prevent her from commenting specifically about Anderson. An e-mail seeking comment was sent to the Department of Defense.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_anderson_army_060908/