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A complicated story about a local Colorado man. Lance Herring is from Boulder, about two years ago he disappeared and did not show up when he was due to return to his Marine unit. He was considered a deserter, after being gone more than 30 days. You would think this is rare, but there have actually been over 1700 cases . The young man was missing for 2 years, then was arrested in Washington. So he is now facing charges by the Marines.
The case is more complicated. On one hand he has a few things in his favor. He left when he was home on leave, he did not desert from combat. It is also considered a less serious offense since he did not desert in time of war. And he had already served one tour in combat in Iraq, so he has that to his credit. He failed to report when he was home on leave after the first tour.
The negative side is that he is also facing local police charges. A friend claimed that the two were hiking together and Lance fell down a cliff, and was not found. There was a large local search with both sheriff and volunteers, before the friend admitted the story was a fake. It seems Lance took a bus out of town and had been working on a tree farm up there. His Dad said he did not know where the Son was, but he was arrested with him as they were boarding a rented C 210. I don't know the Dad, but he rented from one of the FBOs that I use near Boulder.
The young man says when he served in Iraq, at age 21, he witnessed soldiers kill a civilian woman; and he was afraid for his life if he returned to his unit. Soldiers from his unit have been charged in such a killing. This may be the real reason he deserted, ,or a convenient excuse. In any event, it is a shame a young man, apparently from a good family is in a mess. He remains in jail in Wa. now , his Dad has been released. His Dad simply said," I love my Son". I also have a Son just this age, I know I would try to help him some way. I hope it gets resolved so he can go on to a good future.
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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK
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