Vietnam "deserter" charged????? This is bullshit

[liberaltrucker]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0105-02.htm
In a possible message to would-be deserters in Iraq, the US marines have charged a pensioner for not going to war in Vietnam 40 years ago.

Former marine private Jerry Texiero was found selling boats and classic cars in Florida under a false name. He was identified as a result of a fraud conviction in 1998, which he said was the result of wrongdoing by a former partner.

Seven years later marine investigators from an "AWOL apprehension unit" compared his fingerprints with their records of deserters. He was first arrested by Florida police in August and handed over to the military on December 21.

Mr Texiero, 65, is being held in Camp Lejeune, a marine base in North Carolina. No date has been set for preliminary hearings. If he is convicted of desertion in a court martial, he could serve three years in a military jail. His lawyers were due to discuss the case with him yesterday.

Tod Ensign, the legal director of Citizen Soldier, an advocacy group representing conscientious objectors, wrote to Camp Lejeune's commanding officer, Brigadier General Robert Dickerson, asking: "Why are scarce marine resources being squandered on the prosecution of a senior citizen whose only 'crime' is refusing to fight a war that today is universally discredited?<snip>

[phillysuse]

1. There's a guy who was AWOL from the National Guard during VietNam

who they could pick up for desertion during war.

He was in the Texas Air National Guard and didn't show up when he was supposed to.

I'd like to see him charged as well.

[RC]

3. I'd like to see him arrested the next time he goes on

national television.

[Wilms]

2. They probably did it to deliver a message to the current enlisted.

Least they get any ideas of being able to avoid a war that is already (nearly)"universally discredited".

[liberaltrucker]

4. My guess, too

But still bullshit:mad:

[dapper]

5. Didn't Reagan Pardon them?

I'm not sure if I have the president right but didn't Reagan pardon everyone? Like the people who moved to Canada so they didn't have to serve?!?!

Dap

[Xithras]

6. CARTER pardoned them, but not guys like this one.

Carters first act as president was to pardon those who had fled the country to avoid the draft, who had burned their cards and gone into hiding, or who had skipped the system by failing to register. His pardon didn't cover guys like this one, who were actually in the military but just walked off and went AWOL.

This guy isn't a draft dodger, he's a deserter. Legally, there's no statute of limitations on desertion prosecutions.

[dapper]

9. Thanks for the clerification eom

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. "Legally, there's no statute of limitations on desertion prosecutions."

...So then Chimpy can still be prosecuted. Great. Let's go arrest the bastard.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Ummm, Carter did the blanket pardon bit in 1976....

but it didn't cover the UCMJ at all

[NaturalHigh]

8. He'll get a discharge under "other than honorable" conditions...

or possibly lower (bad conduct or dishonorable).

This really isn't all that unusual. I read about a guy here in Oklahoma who deserted during the Korean War and got the same thing a few years ago. It's very unlikely that this guy will do any jail time other than detention at the base until the case is decided.