Marines Hunting Down Vietnam Deserters

[LiviaOlivia]

Wednesday March 08, 2006
Marines Hunting Down Vietnam Deserters
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014227.html

I thought this was a joke, but it's not. Apparently in an effort to send a message to those thinking about deserting from their service in Iraq, a Marine unit is on the prowl, hunting down and jailing Vietnam war deserters.

USA Today 03-07-2006 article

Chief Warrant Officer James Averhart, who has commanded the Marine Corps Absentee Collection Center since September 2004, told the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times that he had ordered cold cases reopened and that his squad had caught 27 deserters in his first 11 months on the job, a rate he suggested was higher than those of his predecessors. The Corps last month updated that number to 33 cases.

"I have a different leadership style than the guys who have had this job. My job is to catch deserters. And that's what I do," Averhart told the newspaper.

One would have thought this issue was put to rest years ago:

In 1974, President Ford offered clemency to Vietnam draft resisters and deserters. Only 27,000 of 350,000 eligible applied. The offer expired on April 1, 1975. In 1977, President Carter pardoned those who dodged the war by not registering or fleeing the country.

What a waste of resources. Why not transfer Averhart to Afghanistan and let him look for Osama?

The Iraq desertion numbers are now at 8,000. (hat tip Patriot Daily.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday :: March 13, 2006
Vietnam War Deserter Arrested at U.S. Canadian Border
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014290.html

Last week I wrote about a new effort by the Marines to arrest Vietnam War deserters. On Thursday, former Marine Allen Abney, 56, who moved to Canada in 1968 and holds dual citizenship, was arrested by U.S. Border Agents at the Vancouver-Idaho border. He's being transferred to Camp Pendleton to face desertion charges.

Abney, 56, lives in Kingsgate, BC, close to the Canada/US border, which he crossed often to go shopping, to do errands, and for other purposes. He is retired. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Abney came to Canada with his family in 1959. In 1968 he enlisted in the US Marines. Later that year, he joined thousands of others who fled to Canada because of their opposition to the Vietnam War. He has lived here ever since.

~snip~

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Wow, more like Hitler's Germany every day...

How proud I am of my country, that we can spend money and resources so wisely.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Yes, what a prudent use of resources:

capture a bunch of guys who deserted 30 or more years ago and are too old to be any good in combat anyway.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Why not transfer Averhart to Afghanistan and let him look for Osama?

and risk his life?

[quiet.american]

3. So, what's taking him so long to haul in Shrub?

He should have been first on the list.

[Judi Lynn]

17. They should put out an alert for him. It's not too late. Maybe a bounty.

It would obviously be the "patriotic" thing to do

[Geoff R. Casavant]

4. There is a difference between "dodging" a draft

And deserting your post once you have volunteered for service, as it appears Mr. Abney did.

[tom_paine]

11. As Emperor Tiberius Bushler also did

www.awolbush.com

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

29. Yeah, what's that difference exactly

and why is it relevant? I'm a veteran and I didn't desert but I don't begrudge those who did. If anything an insider knows more what a pile of shit they've been suckered into than someone who hasn't even checked it out yet.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Wasn't there an amnesty many years ago?

By what legal authority is the Marines "rounding up" deserters, who would be in their 60s anyway?

[Nailzberg]

6. You had to apply for clemency, most deserters did not.

[Burning Water]

7. Then they are

being punished for their own stupidity.

[NYC]

8. It is said that some feared the clemency was a trap

to find out where they were.

[Burning Water]

15. Well, they made a

mistake, which I consider a stupid one. They should have checked it out.

However, you do have to wonder, "why now?", don't you?

[Nailzberg]

9. I do not agree with that.

Many of these deserters were have troubles with severe mental illness. Post-traumatic stress, paranoia.

Perhaps they thought it was trap to round them up.

Or perhaps these people who had fled to Canada or Mexico didn't hear about the clemency offer?

There were 350,000 deserters, and 27,000 applied for clemency, so I don't think stupidity had anything to do with it.

[Burning Water]

14. Severe mental illness.

And stupidity.

Stupidity is not a mental state, it is stupid actions. They didn't take an offered clemency? That's stupid.

[K-W]

22. I didnt realize stupidity was a crime. EOM

[Burning Water]

24. It's not. But,

it generally gets punished, anyway. Desertion, however, is. Rightly or wrongly.

[K-W]

26. That doesnt make this right.

Neither stupidity, nor the fact that they can go after these people makes it right or just that they are doing so. There is a reason amnesty was offered, there is a reason these files were closed. The time for punishing them has long since passed. Going after a bunch of old men who deserted in thier youth is insane.

[Burning Water]

28. Well, nobody's

arguing differently. Still stupidity, and it was stupid not to apply for an amnesty when they had the opportunity, is usually punished in this world. We can feel sympathy, but there is no reason to be surprised.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Burning Water]

31. And I guess

you told me, didn't you?

They were stupid. Their paranoid notions were wrong. They are paying the penalty. Too bad. But why is reality so hard to understand?

[LiviaOlivia]

23. So where's equality under the law when it comes to the Chimp?

Fuck Bush and his supporters. The worst Pres ever.

[Burning Water]

25. Evidently the Chimp managed

to stay within the law, or at least managed to finagle it.

[LiviaOlivia]

27. I prefer this:

Bush managed to break and pervert the law. And he's stayed true to his heritage.

[bemildred]

10. This is pathetic.

How can you be more of a loser and an asshole than to do this?
:puke:

[rodeodance]

13. The WH has a 'punish them' mentality--look at NCLB or Medicare bill.

[yellowcanine]

16. So they are tracking down 50 to 60 year olds who deserted during an

unpopular war? What purpose does this serve other than to satisfy some guy's macho ego? Someone needs to tell Averhart to that his "leadership style" isn't needed.

[TheBaldyMan]

19. his leadership is needed - overseas. n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

18. Oh, wow, big badass Marines - NOT !!!

Semper Fidelis, muthafuckas. (IOW, screw you)

:evilfrown:

[JitterbugPerfume]

20. a lot of these men were suffering from mental illness

and they should not be punished in their OLD AGE fer god sake


there was an amnesty , that should end it

[mikita]

21. for some reason this REALLLLLLY pisses me off....

I wish I could type this in REALLLLY big letters:

Has this MOTHER-FUCKING country got nothing better to do than track down
people who had a CONSCIENCE about that MOTHER-FUCKING horrific period
of our lives???? I am 59, so I remember all that shit well.

THESE MOTHER-FUCKERS CAN NOT DO ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING, worthwhile.

This makes me want to PUKE....

[Love Bug]

32. Statute of limitations on rape: 5 years in NY, up to 12 years in others

Statute of limitations on desertion: apparently none.