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.
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.