I am a veteran, so it is unusual to see me in this position, after all, military service is a long tradition in my family going back to at least 1776, and the Indian Wars before that.
But the story of Darrell Anderson made me realize there are 2 sides to this war. This war unlike others do make rational people question their decision to serve or to continue serving. In that aspect I don't know if I would have the courage to do what either Darrell Anderson has done as apparently 102 other soldiers did in 2006, to make the choice to desert in a time of war, there was a time, that taking that route was a death sentence.
As a veteran with PTSD I do understand the demons this man and others like him, live with. I understand also that these decisions have cost these men their chance at veterans benefits in the future, for medical treatment or compensation due to their service connected PTSD, veterans with bad discharges like these men, do not receive government care or benffits, they have signed away those rights, regardless of the fact they went to war, for this nation.
This article in the Tacoma Tribune explains the situation of Darrell Anderson, why he chose to desert, and what he is doing now.
Darrell Anderson — who spent seven months in Iraq, received a Purple Heart and later deserted from the Army — set up camp in a school bus earlier this month across the freeway from Fort Lewis. As soldiers exited the base, Anderson offered them a power fist of protest.
Sometimes the soldiers responded with jeers and raised middle fingers. Sometimes, they cheered and clenched their own fists or flashed a peace sign.
"A lot of them have families to take care of. They can't resist. They have too much to lose," Anderson said. "They don't want to be like me with nothing, by the side of the road, talking about how wrong it is."
Anderson was drawn to the Northwest by the upcoming court-martial trial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, a Fort Lewis officer who faces up to six years in prison for his refusal to serve a first tour of duty in Iraq and for attacks on the Bush administration's conduct of the war.
I have a hard time understanding Lt. Watada's choice to join the Army after the Iraqi War had started and now refused to delpoy with his unit when it was sent to Iraq, he has stated he would go to Afghanistan but not Iraq, as a soldier, you cannot pick which war zone you will or will not go to, it is an unusual situation as normally there are not multiple war zones at one time, as we see today.
I think most Americans supported the war in Afghanistan after 9/11, fewer of us, and I mean a lot fewer supported the Iraq War, but the fear of Nuclear weapons, or other Biological or Chemical Weapons led us as a nation to give majority support to it, as we now know, none of it was true. We were sold a bill of goods.
His motions to put the war on trial have been dismissed and he will be convicted for missing movement, the presiding judge has dismissed the substance of his defense, basically he is at the mercy of the members of the court martial jury of his other officers.
I get the bad feeling that the Army is going to throw the entire book at him, for putting this into the MSM, and he is a scapegoat now, I do not think they will show him any mercy.
I suggest we all say whatever prayers we can for him and his family, for lenience, that is his only hope, I fear. I hope Darrell Anderson's vigil can bring a positive look on what is happening at Fort Lewis.
Darrell Anderson is a war vet, decorated with the Purple Heart for wounds he received in battle/occupation of Iraq, he also suffers from PTSD, that he will now be denied treatment and compensation for, which is another tragedy, in my own opinion.