Posted on 09/07/2006 5:01:30 AM PDT by leadpenny
Darrell Anderson, the young Lexington soldier who deserted to Canada last year after being wounded in Iraq, wants to come home.
Anderson, now 24, has been an outspoken critic of U.S. policy in Iraq while living in Canada, appearing at peace rallies and attacking the Bush administration in interviews with international publications. Earlier this year, he married a Canadian woman, which his mother said should guarantee him permanent residency in Canada.
But Lexington's Anita Anderson confirmed that her son now wants to return to the United States sometime within the next few weeks. He could be arrested as soon as he crosses the border, she said. If not, he plans to travel to Kentucky, turn himself in at Fort Knox, and face whatever punishment the Army imposes, she said.
A number of peace groups and activists -- possibly including Cindy Sheehan -- will meet him when he crosses the U.S. border, she said. She said she expects considerable press coverage.
Darrell Anderson was on a trip to northern Canada yesterday and unavailable for comment.
But Anita Anderson said she has urged him to stay in Canada.
"I've tried to talk him out of coming back, because he's probably going to get sponsorship in Canada now that he is married to a Canadian girl," she said. "But he's constantly stressed out and worried, and he feels like he can't live out the rest of his life this way."
(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...
Guess he has no hope of Jimmy Carter ever getting re-elected. LOL.
At a picnic for resisters in Fort Erie, Canada, Anderson lies with his head in his wife's lap
and his mother sitting alongside him. He is wearing a T-shirt saying AWOL and a broad
smile, even though he joined the military in the first place to give himself more options and
now he finds himself more trapped than he ever was. His claim for refugee status was denied
and he thinks it will be just a few months before he gets his deportation papers. His wife is
Canadian, so that might help. The US border is just five minutes' drive away but he can't go
back. He says that doesn't bother him. "All those rich people in my country sent me to die
for oil and my education," he says. "I don't feel like I want to go back right now. Maybe if
things change."
Not to sound picky, but you only get free health care "for life" if you stay in the full 20 years and retire.
If you get out before the full 20 (or flee to Canada with your tail between your legs like this whelp) then you lose that "free" health care.
But I get your point anyway.
You are right, unfortunately. They get the best health care money can buy.
Read on in the thread "BS" guy.
People in Hell want ice water.
And, no, I wasn't thinking draft evaders. Draft evaders were not deserters. Get your terms straight.
He should have gotten the Private Slovik treatment.
Hey Darrell! Drop the ID card, buttmunch ... you were a Soldier, once ... now you're just POS.
Thanks for the link. I think we have an apples and potatos comparison between Nam and Iraq. As the article notes, there were 2.7 million military in Nam - 33 thousand deserters at the peak are pretty much a drop in the bucket.
Nonetheless, your point is well made with regard to the specifics.
We should give him what he deserves. Such a sweetie might have a good time in Leavenworth.
It's a wierd beard .... most bearded guys I know (self included) have a moustache as well. He shaves his upper lip.
"It was a conflict."
It was a war when I was there. LBJ's war.
Could be? As soon as they run this guy in the system at primary he'll be nabbed. Especially now that mama has highlighted his desire to return and has put all our border officers on notice to watch for him. :-)
Being a coward is bad enough - but that hair-do he sports is really criminal!!
Trust me on this one: Having a beard doesn't make you a muslim. Promise.
"He feels that if he does jail time, he deserves it because he shouldn't have shot innocent people."
My nephew, who leaves for Iraq very soon, joined the Army over a year ago and knew that he would be going to the Middle East at some point. Why do people join the military if they don't want to fight for their country? That drives me crazy!!!
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