Vietnam-era Marine deserter caught at border

yahoo news | 9-16-06

[Hydroshock]

PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. border agents arrested a Marine deserter wanted for the last 40 years as he drove into California from Mexico, the Customs and Border Protection agency said on Friday.

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Officers checking 63-year-old Victor Aguirre's car and papers at the busy San Ysidro border crossing near San Diego discovered there was a felony warrant issued by the Marines outstanding against him since 1966, during the Vietnam War.

Aguirre would likely be taken to Camp Pendleton, a Marine base north of San Diego, and be discharged without facing formal charges, the San Diego Union-Tribune quoted a Marine spokesman as saying.

[jaydubya2]

I thought Carter pardoned all these guys?

[sdillard]

This is a bit old to bother with.

Give him his dishonorable and let him go about his business. He's had 40 years to worry about getting caught. That's bad enough.

I am not apologizing for him, just recognizing that there is no point in making a big deal about this long-ago event now.

[Hydroshock]

I say cashier him under a dishonorable and be done with him.

[lmailbvmbipfwedu]

Only the ones who went north............

[Red Badger]

1966? Had the Vietnam War protests and subsequent desertions / Draft evasions been underway by then? He may be just a plain old deserter.............

[ops33]

In order for the deserter to receive a Dishonorable Discharge he must have a General Courts-Martial. I doubt if the Marines have the time or inclination to conduct a General Courts-Martial.

[Phsstpok]

the TV show JAG did an episode about a Marine "deserter" from the Korean war popping up on the radar like this. Turns out he was injured at the Chosun Reservoir (after saving lots of other Marines). When he was eventually told he could leave the hospital a few months later he thought that was his discharge and he just went back to the reservation or barrio (I forget if he was Indian or Mexican American) and never thought about it again.

This could easily be a paperwork screw up from 1966... nah, the US government never makes mistakes...

[Red Badger]

I doubt if the Marines have the time or inclination to conduct a General Courts-Martial.

They could convene one quickly and dispense with this if both sides are in agreement. Just push the paperwork thru.........

[conservativehusker]

My opinion is to a guy on the run for 40 years a dishonorable discharge won't make a big difference in his life. Reasons to worry about the type of discharge is employment..didn't seem to bother this guy to have an outstanding warrant..

[Hydroshock]

He was living in Mexico, so it probably means nothing to him.

[B.O. Plenty]

I am not apologizing for him, just recognizing that there is no point in making a big deal about this long-ago event now.

Just as a question...do you feel the same way about all the old NAZI's? Some of these guys are in their late '80's and 90's, but they are still hounded and prosecuted to this day...there is no repreive for these old guys?

[stylin19a]

Carter's amnesty was for any violations of the Military Selective Service Act.
I don't beleive deserters fall into this category.

[Garvin]

He'll probably get a fresh haircut and a current uniform, sit in the Brig until he gets his BCD (Bad Conduct Discharge), unless he deserted from unit that was getting ready to deploy. That might get him a little more Brig time and a Clinton (Dishonarble Discharge).

[PISANO]

He's had 40 years to worry about getting caught.

Yeah RIGHT!!

[Holicheese]

Meanwhile, 50,000 illegal mexicans slipped across the border as they were slapping the cuffs on this guy.

[chuckles]

Desertion is different than draft dodging. A firing squad is called for in this case. Call me "old fashioned", but I know some of the names on a granite wall.

[Eternal_Bear]

They haven't shot a soldier in over 60 years for desertion. Eddie Slovik was the only soldier in all of World War II to be executed for it. How old are you?

[mjustice]

I'm pretty sure that a DD will prevent you from purchasing or possessing firearms...

[Tammy8]

That may be true, but I do hope they figure out some way to deal with him so he will NEVER be eligible for Veteran's benefits of any sort. Not one cent should ever go to this man in the way of Veteran's benefits.