Deserter will not be charged, lawyer says. Heah!!

[alfredo]

This is great news.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/15701361.htm


Army deserter Darrell Anderson was released from Fort Knox yesterday, and after a brief stop at home in Lexington planned to travel to Tennessee to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anita Anderson said by cell phone that she picked up her son at the military post shortly before noon yesterday, and that they were on their way to a Tennessee treatment facility where Darrell Anderson could stay for a few weeks or months. She said he had been "treated very very well" while in Army custody.

Darrell Anderson's attorney, Jim Fennerty, said the Army had decided not to court-martial his client and had elected to give him an "other-than-honorable" discharge instead -- even though Anderson deserted to Canada and publicly criticized U.S. policy in Iraq. Fennerty said Anderson expects to get his discharge papers by mail within a few days, but he had no other immediate details.

As a deserter, Anderson could have received a variety of punishments ranging from a dishonorable discharge to months or years in prison. At least one soldier who refused to go when his unit shipped out for Iraq last year was sentenced to 15 months in jail.

[ClintonTyree]

1. Prosecution of these guys.....

who've had a change of conscience is pathetic. Back in the 80's my brother, who was stationed in Germany, just got up and quit the Army. He flew home and was never even charged. They gave him a "less than honorable discharge" and that was that. Ironically, my brother quit the Army because he WASN'T killing anyone. His peace-time duties were a drag. He wanted to kill. Yes, my brother was and remains one fucked up individual. My daughter remarked that she can't believe he and I are from the same family. Sometime I question it myself.

[alfredo]

2. I think his purple heart may have saved him from

jail time. The war is becoming unpopular and it would be unseemly of them to jail a war hero.

[Ian David]

3. I think the army was afraid because the guy had a good PR program

The spectacle of a trial would have been embarrassing for the government and made the guy a martyr.

Now, he's just a deserter (Like George W. Bush).

If he'd been convicted, he would have been a political prisoner.

The government has robbed him of the chance to add to his credibility and clout.

[alfredo]

4. His mother would not be denied her son.

[katinmn]

5. Hooray!

Thanks for the great news!:toast:

[michreject]

6. His life is fucked up forever

It's going to affect any Federal loans for education, housing etc.... Going to show up in employment applications. Can never legally own a gun.

[alfredo]

7. I think he can get it change to an honorable

but I am not too sure.

As it is now, it will lessen options, but I'm sure he can work around them.



I'm a Michigan refugee.

[michreject]

8. I've never heard of this happening

I think he can get it change to an honorable

The military prety much has free reign of punishment matters.

[alfredo]

10. I think a section 8 or a general can be changed. It's

been a few decades since I've worn olive drab.

[michreject]

12. All General discharges

are under Honorable conditions. These won't hurt you. Section 8's are for the Army getting rid of you, not you giving up on the Army. This guy most likely received a Bad Conduct Discharge.

At any rate, i've never heard of a discharge being changed after you've left the service. The time to fight this is before he separates.

[sandnsea]

16. There's a whole board that does nothing but

Happens all the time. I know a kid who was kicked out of the Air Force, the Guard helped him get his discharge changed and he joined the Guard. This was before 9/11 so it didn't have anything to do with that either.

[sandnsea]

13. Not anybody I knew

Maybe they've changed regulations, but I've never seen a UD hurt anybody's ability to get a house or student loan or anything else. It only hurts if you try to get VA connected benefits.

[EFerrari]

14. On the other hand, he gets to live.

[Vidar]

9. Good for the Andersons.

[alfredo]

11. His mom looked so happy to have him home.

She never doubted that he would not go to prison.

I had a chance to go to Camp Casey with her, but the thought of the long drive there and back didn't appeal to this 60 year old arthritic body. Twenty years ago I would have jumped at it.

[EFerrari]

15. I am so glad to hear this. One live saved.

:toast:

[alfredo]

17. You know a lot of soldiers are watching his case.