"The soldier who refuses to fight" (first soldier to enter Canada)

[DarkPhenyx]

I don't remember seeing this posted previously. I found out about it from my local Indy newspaper. There is a story in the Raleigh Independant this week.

http://indyweek.com/durham/current/news.html

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040207/DESERTER07/TPComment/TopStories

Just before midnight on Jan. 2, he and his wife, Nga Nguyen, 31, quietly loaded their 21-month-old son, Liam, and a few belongings into their 1996 Chevrolet Prism and disappeared into the darkness for a 17-hour drive to the Canadian border. They left just before his unit -- the second battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment -- was shipped overseas.

As a result, Mr. Hinzman is believed to be the first U.S. soldier to apply for refugee status in Canada after refusing combat duty in Iraq -- the first echo of the 12,000 deserters and 20,000 draft resisters who came north more than 30 years ago to escape the Vietnam War.

[Mari333]

1. Thank god he got out

I wish I could have turned my stepson around to do the same thing...It may be too late now.......

[wuushew]

2. Isn't Canada obligated to return him?

Bush had the rules changed didn't he?