AWOL US Soldier Who Fled to Canada Returns Home
An Army soldier who fled to Canada rather than redeploy to Iraq surrendered Tuesday to military officials after asking for leniency. American military authorites are not expected to pursue charges.Spc. Darrell Anderson, 24, said he deserted the Army last year because he could no longer fight in what he believes is an illegal war.
Anderson's lawyer, Jim Fennerty of Chicago said his client will be interviewed by military investigators, given a uniform and assigned to a barracks while his case is processed. In three to five days, he will be given a discharge of other than honourable. At that point, he should be free from his military commitment and face no other charges, Fennerty said.
"He's not a criminal," Fennerty said.
Gini Sinclair, a spokeswoman for Fort Knox, would not discuss Anderson specifically, but said officers review the cases of absent-without-leave soldiers before they are discharged.
"In some cases, you can be here only a few days," Sinclair said.
The Star
Washington Post
