Posted on 10/11/2004 1:02:48 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
TORONTO -- Jeremy Hinzman enlisted in the Army in Boston, did a tour in Afghanistan and prepared for elite Ranger school. Then came orders to go to Iraq. He neatly piled his Army gear in his living room at Fort Bragg and fled to Canada with his wife and baby.
"No matter how much I wanted to, I could not convince myself that killing someone was ever right," Hinzman, 25, said in an interview here.
Spec. Hinzman is a deserter, one of at least four who have followed the path of Vietnam War resisters a generation ago to seek refuge in Canada. Here, they have been embraced by many from that time -- former peaceniks who are now pillars of the community.
The government is less welcoming. Despite Canada's opposition to the Iraq war, the government also is opposing the deserters' refugee applications, saying the soldiers are not persecuted. It is resisting the argument that the Iraq war is illegal.
"Canada is worried if they grant us refugee status, others would come up," said Hinzman.
The deserters in Canada provoke anger in the United States among people who argue they are shirking a duty to which they willingly agreed. "There's no draft. These people volunteered for the military," said Jerry Newberry, a spokesman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in St. Louis. "These people want to have their cake and eat it, too."
Hinzman, a slender, studious young man, accepts the criticisms. He replies that his objections to the military evolved after he enlisted. Well before he was ordered to Iraq, he applied for noncombatant duty. Had that been granted, he said, he would have served his obligation, would even have gone to Iraq as a medic or cook or anything that did not involve offensive operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I think we should send bounty hunters in and bring these people back and give them a taste of stockade time. There are very few things worse than deserters.
I... get... it. Someone who cannot accept that it is ever right to kill anyone had applied to RANGER School. Bullshit.
Memo to Hinzman: Sometimes medics, and especially cooks, are pressed into combat by necessity.
The thing about this war is nobody was drafted. It is not comparable to Viet Nam at all. I would like to know what perks these deserters got. Free college education maybe? That's my guess, they joined for the free education and got it, but are unwilling to hold up their end of the bargain. Should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
So if a terrorist was about to murder your wife and child You would NOT defend them and KILL the terrorist because it would not be right?
Let this POS go, we don't need idiots in the military.
Uh, yeah. What was he expecting, to parachute behind enemy lines with a 70-lb ruck and negotiate 'em to death?
Hinzman, a slender, studious young man, accepts the criticisms. He replies that his objections to the military evolved after he enlisted. Well before he was ordered to Iraq, he applied for noncombatant duty.
I see you were against the war even before you were for the war?
Did he think he was applying for the TEXAS Rangers?
My sentiments exactly!
What a maroon-he joined the military BEFORE he "discovered" that he could never kill another human? What if the terrorists were to enact another Beslan in the school where his children are?
I am really ticked off about this so I am **PINGING** you to feel my pain! ARG
These sniveling little girly-men. Canada can have them!
"If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have enlisted."
What the hell did these idiots think they were joining,a sleepaway camp group?
All I hear is whining about joining for an education. What did they think the weapons were for,fun?
Morons----we're better off without them.
Agree. Except for bringing them back. Canada can keep them. Now, if only they would take one traitor off our hands!
Then join McDonalds! Not the military!
Send the "Dog".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.