Canada Ping!
Posted on 07/12/2015 5:01:30 PM PDT by Olog-hai
When Army Sgt. Patrick Hart decided a decade ago that he would not serve in the war in Iraq, he expected to follow the same path as thousands of American war resisters during the Vietnam era and take refuge across the border.
But after five years of wrangling with the Canadian immigration system, he came back to the U.S.—and ended up in a military prison.
The country that once welcomed war resisters has developed a much different reputation during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan: Supporters say no U.S. soldier who has sought legal residence in Canada, either as a refugee or on humanitarian grounds, has been successful.
“Nobody’s won,” said Hart, a Buffalo native who exhausted his legal options then turned himself in to the Army, was court-martialed for desertion and sentenced to two years in prison.
There are an estimated two dozen U.S. military members still waiting out their fate in Canada, and the resisters’ movement is seen as nearing a crossroads. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Clowns who are afraid to go to war have no business joining the military. War is what they do.
No. It was an administration (Carter) that welcomed war resisters. Most of us Americans thought they were either very questionable or outright despicable.
For one thing it was about conscription back then. Totally different issue.
Somebody should e-mail this story to Bergdahl.
I think a big difference is that fact that Canada was in Iraq, too. Not so with Viet Nam. Why would they offer sanctuary to Americans who didn’t want to go to Iraq, when Canadians were there, too?
GI Bill benefits for a bad conduct discharge?
Canada Ping!
Empathy module not responding,
The Worst of Ours Went North and the Best of Theirs Came South.
Wikipedia - In counter-current to the movement of American draft-dodgers and deserters to Canada, about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in southeast Asia. Among the volunteers were fifty Mohawks from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal.
When my Father was in the Marines in the Early 70's he said he served with a Marine from Canada.
Semper fidelis
Canadian policy during the Vietnam War was identical to US policy from 1939-1942; draft evaders were allowed to stay while deserters were extradited on request.
Yep, that’s how I saw it. If my number had come up, I would have served.
I despised the Left so much in those days. My folks never had to explain it to me. The Left was so anti-American I couldn’t have possibly joined the Democrat party.
I guess Cuba’s out now too.
““Nobody’s won,” said Hart, a Buffalo native who exhausted his legal options then turned himself in to the Army, was court-martialed for desertion and sentenced to two years in prison.”
In the olden days, deserters would have been shot.
jimmy carters very first act as President was to forgive and grant amnesty to the Viet Nam war draft dodgers. I never forgave him for that.
Excellent post, big difference of being Drafted vs. signing up for the money.
... If my number had come up, I would have served...
My number was under the magic 196 on 12/01/69. They drafted to 195.
Didnt matter because I joined USN 6/68.
In 1969, I drew at 352.
I didn’t volunteer. I could see what the Left was doing and I knew they’d lose us the war. It seemed to me to be a lost effort and I didn’t want to be a part of it.
God I hated the Left in those days. Today it’s even worse.
I focus a lot of that anger on Jane Fonda. Here, Kerry, and other of their ilk in those days disgust me to the absolute max.
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