Stewart soldier charged for fleeing to Canada

[unhappycamper]

Stewart soldier charged for fleeing to Canada
By Russ Bynum - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 26, 2009 19:26:26 EST

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Fort Stewart commanders have filed a desertion charge against a soldier accused of fleeing to Canada four years ago to avoid the war in Iraq, a spokesman for the Georgia Army post said Thursday.

Spc. Cliff Cornell, 29, will now face an investigation to determine whether his case should be handled administratively or sent to a court-martial, said Maj. Lee Peters, a Fort Stewart spokesman.

Cornell, of Mountain Home, Ark., returned to the Army two weeks ago after the Canadian government denied him asylum as a war objector.

Cornell acknowledges he left his unit with the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in 2005 and fled to Canada, where he found work at a grocery store on Gabriola Island in British Columbia. He crossed the U.S.-Canada border earlier this month.

Cornell has continued to perform regular duties with his new unit since he turned himself in at Fort Stewart on Feb. 10, and he was not jailed after charges were filed. Peters said Cornell’s commander has praised his performance since he returned.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_cornell_canada_objector_022609/%2e