No..Just the draft dodgers.
Posted on 03/14/2006 2:00:31 PM PST by Former Military Chick
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A man who deserted from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 likely will be freed within a week without a court martial, a marine corps spokesman said.
Allen Abney, 56, was arrested last Thursday when he and his wife tried to cross into the United States from their home in Kingsgate, B.C. A routine computer check revealed an arrest warrant for the father of three, officials said.
He was being held in the Camp Pendleton brig north of San Diego in a private room with a window and access to television, Lieut. Lawton King, a marine corps spokesman, said Monday.
Abney met with a military lawyer, a colonel and a representative of the Canadian Consulate on Monday, and also has spoken with medical personnel.
Until last week, Abney had crossed into the U.S. hundreds of times without incident, said his daughter, Jessica Abney, 33.
Allen Abney was born in the U.S. but grew up in Canada. He retained his American citizenship and enlisted in the marine corps in 1968 soon after his younger brother received his draft notice.
Abney was sent to boot camp at Camp Pendleton but fled to Vancouver aboard a bus after receiving a weekend pass to visit Mexico.
He worked in the logging, fish farming and computer industries before retiring, his daughter said.
Deserters face punishment ranging from discharge to five years in jail, officials said.
Unless additional information surfaces, Abney's case will be handled administratively, King said. Other deserters from that era have been given discharges labelled as "other than honourable."
Last month, the military dropped desertion charges and released a 65-year-old Florida man who fled from Camp Pendleton in 1965.
OK, they should be punished because they BROKE the law, they knew it they left the country.
What does this say to those running from their duty in Iraq, that are now residing in Canada. Yep, I am mad.
Another news source said:
Despite several recent cases of Vietnam deserters being arrested, the Marine Corps has not made a particular effort to catch such people, King said.
I thought Jimmuh Carter pardoned all these losers.
If he wants to live in Canada he should stay there, FOREVER!
No, Carter pardoned the draft dogers, not the deserters.
No..Just the draft dodgers.
BC used to be conservative for the most part until the dodgers showed up...
Someone needs to tell the Canadian Press that in this country, "Marine Corps" is ALWAYS capitalized!
Why not? The military has already set the precedent by letting that Korean war army deserter who fled to North Korea off the hook.
I don't think so....
No kidding, boot camp was at MCRD
There is something so wrong when someone deserts the military and there are no consequences. I say this because there are many who have fled to Canada to escape their duty in Iraq.
It seems to say go, nothing will happen.
"What does this say to those running from their duty in Iraq, that are now residing in Canada."
What in the hell are you talking about? People moving to Canada to escape the war - there's no draft... They just need to not enlist if they don't want to fight...
I don't mind them not spending lotsa resources to track them down. But at least give them some hard labor for a spell when you find 'em.
He should lose his citizenship and be banned from returning. Returning would mean revocation of his release and 10 years prison would be served.
She's talking about reservists and regular military who have decided to go to Canada rather than fulfill their military obligations.
I agree, but I partly blame the military who in order to get recruits want to dangle sweet carrots in front of potential volunteers (i.e., education, romance, world travel) rather than educating them on what the role of the military really is. I always use to chaffe when I would see those commercials that made the military look more like a springboard to college than a warfighting machine.
"Unless additional information surfaces, Abney's case will be handled administratively, King said. Other deserters from that era have been given discharges labelled as "other than honourable."
What is wrong with that?
At least he enlisted in the Marines unlike those that dodged the draft.
The man will have been in the brig for more than a week. Yes I know he had a t.v., but should he only be given bread and water?
What are we supposed to do with the man. Execute him?
The more that is made of this, the more likely that this man will become a cause for all of the Cindy Sheehan types to ramp-up their anti-war rallies.
If you volunteer, honor demands that you meet your commitment. If you can't or won't, go home in discrace and be stricken from the rolls. Otherwise, follow orders, take your lumps, drink water and move forward.
I don't want anyone next to me that hasn't made a personal commitment.
/johnny
Let me be quite clear there are folks who choose to volunteer to serve in the United States Military. That have taken money, bonuses, college education's, that have frankly stole from us and chosen not to honor their contract.
Than for what ever reason they have chosen to go AWOL, run from their duty, that they VOLUNTEERED to serve. Many have fled to Canada to avoid their duty in Iraq.
I am aware of what I am speaking of, Jeremy Hinzman (deserter), Brandon Hughey (American war dodger), Darrell Anderson, Clifford Cornell, Ivan Brobeck, Joshua Key, Ryan Johnson I could go on.
No one should be punished for a lack of patriotism, especially if they do the right thing and leave the country (better than staying if they are unpatriotic).
But in this case, he freely agreed to join the military and then broke his contract. At the least, he should be fined the cost to the Marines of his training, with interest, which is probably not a small sum.
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