Why exactly did this person join the military, specifically the ARMY, if he's "Not a fighter"??? And why didn't he just apply for conciencious objector status and opt out of the military? I guess he took a different oath when he enlisted than I did.
Not punishing this soldier would be a slap in the face to the millions of veterans who have stepped up, and did what they were asked to do. This young man joined the military during a time of war. There was no way that he should have thought that he would not have to be deployed. He joined the US Military voluntarily, he was not conscripted into service, so he joined knowing that going to war was a possibility. Most soldiers don't want to go to war, and do not like the idea of killing, but we do what our country asks us to do, and don't run away from something just because we don't agree. This "soldier", a term I hesitate to use with this man, dishonored his country, his unit, and himself, and let his buddys and command down. I say through the book at him!
He returned because the Canadian government denied his request to stay, not because he felt bad about his actions! This deserter should get some hard time and a dishonorable discharge. What a load of garbage!
No sane man likes to kill. It is not an emotion that most turn on and off like the TV. But it is not the excuse to abandon your unit when they are to deploy to the combat zone.
He should be punished! what he should receive, should be judged on his past performance, his act of desertion, willingness to turn himself in, which took some courage. Then ship him to Iraq for deployment for a thirteen month tour, instead of wasting tax payers money and confining him in a cell with three meals and a cot to sleep for five years.
He had the option of Conscientiouus Objector and chose to ignore it to desert. This was his first bad case of poor judgement.
Let the Court Martial begin and let's hear the facts, nothing but the facts, please!
De Oppresso Liber!!!! God Bless the Troops and the USA!!!
His C.O. stated that he has been a "model soldier..."... Model for what?... Must be a different model that they are using today, than when I was in... Respectfully, SUNLINER81
I knew when I signed my life over to the Army nearly 40 years ago, I could be sent in to harms way. I understood I could be maimed, mutilated or killed. I knew that I had a duty to serve this country.
Now this deserter, should be tried for desertion and take what ever sentence is handed down. He chose to run and leave his fellow warriors short handed knowing that his actions could attribute to the deaths of some of them. May his conscience never be cleared of what he did to his brothers and sisters in arms.
This idiot only came back to the states because Canada denied him. He would have stayed there otherwise. A deserter should punished--don't join the military if you don't have the guts to fight--thats what the military is all about.
We have an all-volunteer military. C.O. status is for people facing a draft. This person volunteered, then went back on his word. Justice would seem to require punishment, the severity of which would likely take into account his turning himself in (yes, Canada refused him, but he could have continued to try to hide), his service since, etc.as well as the damage done to his unit and his comrades in arms. Contrary to what the lawyer thinks, disagreeeing with policy (I don't believe in this war...) is NOT a good reason for deserting. Nor is deciding when the crunch comes (why do you think you were issued a rifle?)that you feel squeamish about taking a life.
And i quote "Peters said Cornell's commander has praised his performance since he returned.
In his opinion, Cornell's been a model Soldier," Peters said. "He's shown up, performed his duty and done exactly what the company's asked him to do."
What is going on in the Army ?, he should have done what he was supposed to do when it was time for deployment, suck it up like everyone else who had to go. This is not a "model soldier" if so everyone in the Army need to start running to Canada when it's time for deployment. Let's see what will happen then. If he didn't want to get deployed he shouldn't have joined and if deployment is something he can't handle then he needed to do his time and get out. They need to stop spoonfeeding grown people, throw his behind in jail.
This guy is an out and out deserter and should be punished as such. He knew enlisting meant that he MAY have to engage in killing another human being. That did not deter him from joining. Did he really expect the Army to just be some sort of elite club where folks just sat around "discussing" killing? He needs to atone for his leaving his country. Leavenworth is the perfect place for him to spend some time thinking of the consequences of his actions.
Mr. Cornell had quickly become a respected member of his Gabriola Island community. He is sadly missed there. Most Canadians wanted him to remain in Canada.
Originally posted by jaimos: Mr. Cornell had quickly become a respected member of his Gabriola Island community. He is sadly missed there. Most Canadians wanted him to remain in Canada.
What? Who cares? Anyway as has already been stated, this is a volunteer military. That's pretty cut and dry. If you think war is immoral, wrong, etc. the don't join.
You the Military will have to do something. Right!!!. If you let him off with out punishment then every tom,dick and harry will jump the fence any time they want and claim that they object to what ever. And the military will lose control. If you let him get by with this then why was Pvt. Slovic Shot by a fireing Squad back in WWII???.So do your duty and Try him!!!.
What the Hell is his "Commander" doing here? He is NOT a model soldier. Canada said "NO". They too have 2,500 real soldiers in Iraq. His Commanding Officer should not praise him but rather lock him up in the Brigg. Period. This guy is a deserter and deserves hard time and a dishonorable discharge. His Commanding Officer needs to be under investigation for his actions in this.
ayet, the majority of canadians. the majority of parliament, and gabriola island.
Ya got to LOVE these little Trolls 3 post, no profile And he's claiming to speak for the Majority of Canadians. Really When and by whom was this poll taken. Oh forget it Get back underneath your bridge, before I send a Goat to kick your A55
As for your deserter Buddy
may he receive the Full Extent of the Law ( They say the First 25 years of Hard Labor are the Worst )
It has been a childhood dream of mine to make a career out of the military and recently learned that at age 29 that dream can still be realized through the Army National Guard. This person is a disgrace to the heart of this country and to the veterns like my father who served honorably during Vietnam. He is also a bad example to people like me who are trying to enlist. He should be punished and dishonorably discharged from the Army because he served dishonorably.
) 
