“All my fellow resisters in Canada and the U.S…We have to stay strong and stand our ground. Because if we keep speaking the truth and stand up for what’s right we will always be free inside.” -Darrell Anderson
Shortly past Noon on Friday, October 6, Iraq war veteran and war resister Darrell Anderson was released from Ft. Knox after turning himself in to military custody on October 3. According to his attorney, Jim Finnerty, Darrell will receive an “other than honorable” discharge without facing court martial. He expects discharge papers to be mailed to Anderson within days.
Before turning himself in Darrell held a press conference at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliffe, KY. “I feel that by resisting I made up for the things I did in Iraq,” he said. “I feel I made up for the sins I committed in this war.” Shortly after, surrounded by his wife, mother and step-father, military veterans, and representatives of both national and local Kentucky peace groups Darrell Anderson turned himself in to military police at Ft. Knox, KY. In spite of the risk of prosecution, Anderson decided that he wanted to return to home and family. View video of press conference
Driven in a car by his mother, Anita Dennis, Darrell Anderson crossed back into the U.S. from Canada on September 30, over the Peace Bridge, following a press conference in Ft. Erie, Canada where he told supporters, “I believed it was my human right to choose not to kill innocent people.”
Darrell Anderson was deployed to Iraq with the Army’s 1st Armoured Division in the spring of 2004. Darrell served most of his time in Baghdad where he was wounded by a roadside bomb after serving for 7 months. Facing the possibility of a second deployment to Iraq, Darrells conscience kept him from returning to the military. After witnessing the abuse and killing of Iraqi civilians and being ordered to fire on an automobile containing Iraqi civilians, Anderson concluded that the war is wrong. He fled to Canada rather than face the possibility of returning to Iraq.
Anderson will now be seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress at a facility in Tennessee. Since being in combat, Anderson said that he has suffered panic attacks, nightmares, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Darrell still has over $10,000 in outstanding legal fee’s and needs your support.
Please send donations to:
Darrell Anderson Legal Fees Fund
P.O. Box 54675
Lexington, KY. 40555-4675
or
Darrell Anderson Family Expense Fund
P.O. Box 54642
Lexington, KY. 40555-4642
Send words of support to: [email protected]
“I’ve worked with Courage to Resist now for six years. One of the best decisions the Chelsea Manning Support Network ever made was hooking up with them. They are amazing. I can’t sing their praises enough. In fact I became a regular donor.”
