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Vietnam War Deserter Won't Stand Trial
Charlotte Observer | January 27, 2006
A Vietnam-era Marine Corps deserter was back home in Fort Worth on Thursday after being discharged from the military without a court-martial.
Ernest McQueen, 55, was arrested Jan. 12 by Fort Worth police at the request of the Marines. He was taken to Camp Pendleton in California. No disciplinary action will be taken against McQueen, a Marine spokesman wrote in an e-mail to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Thursday. Military officials say McQueen's true name is Ernest Johnson Jr. "Based on all the circumstances of the case, the commanding general determined it was in the best interest of justice, the Marines Corps and Pvt. Johnson to be expeditiously separated from the service," Lt. Lawton King wrote. "Pvt. Johnson's failing health was a factor in his decision as well." King declined to disclose the type of discharge McQueen received. McQueen said it was an other-than-honorable discharge. In a jailhouse interview Jan. 16, McQueen said he left Camp Lejeune in November 1969 because he did not want to be a part of killing anyone in Vietnam. For three decades, he drifted, living in several states and marrying twice. He has a son, 28, and a daughter, 22. McQueen was living with a girlfriend in southwest Fort Worth when he was arrested. McQueen, a carpenter, said he never told his wife, children or girlfriend about his military past. He knew military police were closing in on him, McQueen said, but illness, including prostate cancer diagnosed about a year ago, left him too tired to run. Authorities tracked him down based on information from a relative. Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion. Copyright 2009 Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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