After 28 years David A Hemler tells the truth [USAF Deserter]

DN.se (Sweden) ^ | June 16, 2012 | Dagens Nyheter

[QT3.14]

In October 1984, a 21-year-old American Airman deserted and hitch-hiked from an Air Force base in Augsburg, Germany to Stockholm. He built himself a life in Sweden – never sharing his secret with anyone, while becoming one of the U.S. Air Force’s eight most wanted fugitives. Today, David A. Hemler, 49, comes forward in an exclusive interview with Dagens Nyheter (DN), Stockholm.

[QT3.14]

He deserves to cool his jets in Leavenworth.

[treetopsandroofs]

Hmm, why now?

[TSgt]

He should end up like Jeff Carney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Carney

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1436635/Nobody-wants-the-American-who-gave-secrets-to-the-Stasi.html

[taxcontrol]

Why spend any more money on this punk? Bring him back to the US (maybe Ft Riely KS), try him, dishonerably charge him, deny any passport application, add his name to the “no fly list”.

[struwwelpeter]

Served in Germany six years and don’t know of any USAF bases in Augsburg. There used to be a Luftwaffe base in Lechfeld, south of Augsburg, but I’ll bet he was at the Augsburg Kaserne, which was Army & closed in ‘98 I think.

[pfflier]

I smell a rat. He is a deserter, not AWOL.

From what I gather, this guy was In the USAF Security Service. His job was most likely a linguist or radio intercept operator or crypto specialist. In any case, he had to have a T/S Crypto clearance as a result of an EBI investigation.

His story is just not right.

If he is brought up on UCMJ desertion charges, give him the max.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Soetoro will be leaving office soon and this POS is getting in line early for a pardon.

[reaganaut]

What a jack*** (yes, I read the article). He seems to think that he won’t be punished and there was a bit of veiled threat to ‘connections’ in Thailand.

Levenworth would be too good for this guy.

[treetopsandroofs]

I thought of that too, but I read most of the article and it’s loaded down with anti-conservative statements.

I’m thinking Hussein is going to “off-handedly” mention something about him, something anti-Reagan, or be a hero for pardoning him.

I smell political opportunity, and not being perpetrated by this POS, but by his current CinC.

[America always]

As is usually the case with the kinds of people who do what he did he comes across as selfish, narcissistic, and immature. Totally consumed with himself he rationalizes his desertion by blaming others. Good riddance. If I were his family I'd wait another 28 years before acknowledging he still exists.

[treetopsandroofs]

Hussein’s advance team would have contacted them well before this article would have been published.

I smell a big set-up.

[ken in texas]

Re: ...radio intercept operator or crypto specialist... T/S Crypto clearance ...

I know someone that used to do that in Nam, working in isolated places and with at least one guard present. He joked that in case of trouble the guard was ordered to shoot him first, destroy the equipment, then try to quell the attack.

If Hemler had that level of clearance there's no telling how much info he's divulged over the years.

[ops33]

Interesting. He appears to have been a German linguist (mentions he read the German papers) working in an AF intelligence facility. Makes me wonder how many persons he talked to? I would imagine he was debriefed by Swedish intelligence but what about East German?

[ops33]

Was in an AF intelligence unit, probably was assigned to Field Station Augsburg.

[An American!]

There is no statute of limitations for deserters.

Lock him up! Do not just administratively discharge.
UCMJ Article 85:
(c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.

[donozark]

6913 Electronic Security Squadron. Flak Kaserne Augsburg W. Germany.

[the_daug]

Why? Was he selling secrets?

[Georgia Girl 2]

Just give him a dishonorable discharge and let him stay in Sweden forever. Good riddance. Its just one more progressive Occupier that will not be here.

[L.Thermador]

Flak Kaserne, Augsburg...
The Zoomies had a small det of Electronic ears on the other side of the ball field, near our motor park.
328th ASA 502/66MI 1984-87