Man AWOL for 28 Years pops up in Sweden

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**Ahtman**

Article

A man who deserted the U.S. Air Force in 1984 recently revealed himself to his delighted family and explained how he lived under an assumed name for 28 years in Sweden.

David Hemler, who was one of the eight most wanted fugitives by the U.S. Air Force, told the truth about himself to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, and talked about his life as a government worker who is married with children.

Hemler deserted when he was 21 because he became disillusioned from the military, he told the newspaper. He went AWOL in October of 1984 and hitch-hiked from an Air Force base in Augsburg, Germany to Stockholm. He built himself a life in Sweden where he didn't tell anyone his true identity.

"It was hard, but after a while I began believing my own, strange story," Hemler, 49, told the newspaper.

He said wanted to tell his story in his own words and the time was right because, his third daughter turned two and could go to day care, so his wife would be better able to cope if he was arrested, Reuters reported.

He first contacted his U.S. family four weeks ago, speaking to his brother Thomas, the news agency reported.

"I heard immediately it was David, even if he had a strange European accent after all these years," Thomas Hemler, who lives in New Jersey, was quoted as saying.

He said he asked questions to confirm the man of the phone was indeed his brother David. Reuters reported members of his U.S. family in the are planning to visit him in Sweden.

Hemler said his political views of the military were changed when he became a pacifist. With that he walked away from the Air Force base without permission.

He told Dagens Nyheter of his life when he arrived in Sweden:

"I made up a story that I ... ran away from my parents who were travelers but nobody believed it. I worked for the hamburger chain, Clock, and in geriatric care. In 1994, I started at the university and earned a very good degree."

With Swedish authorities, David Hemler is registered as a citizen of an unknown country. He was, according to the documents, born in Zürich and immigrated in January 1986. He does not want DN to print the fictitious name he has been using in Sweden, which he created by using an old friend's surname and the last name of another.

Hemler said his family in Sweden did not believe him when he first told them of his past. He said that so far no one is upset with him.

What does he hope will happen?

"That there will be no penalties at all or a few weeks in prison, max. Travel is important to me," he told the newspaper. "Today I have three home countries: U.S.A., Sweden and Thailand, which is where my wife is from. I also have important family members there."

I am not an expert on the USCMJ but I have to think that the penalty for desertion is more than 'a few weeks' in prison. Last I checked, most countries aren't big on deserters. If he became an conscientious objector there are other ways to go about separating yourself from the service then hiding out in a foreign country and lying to everyone.

**Kovnik Obama**

I might end up showing up my complete lack of contemporary historical knowledge, but was there anything going on in 1984 in Germany, that would explain a desertion?

**Clthomps**

The US army was guarding the west side of the Berlin wall, Most of the units posted there were suicide squads tasked with holding the reds on the bridges until the last man... or reinforcements arrived (very unlikely).

**Sasori**

I doubt anything serious is going to happen to him.

**Sgt_Scruffy**

Really, no one cares. I don't condone going AWOL, but the guy must have been dishonorably discharged a long while back. I'm okay with him being free but he doesn't get to come home unless it's to face UCMJ.

**Relapse**

In the documentary "Jumping the Line" there is an army deserter that lived in North Korea, did anti American propoganda movies and married a kidnapped Japanese woman.
He lived there since the mid 1960's and left a few decades later. I think he got 30 days or so in prison, if that, so I don't believe much will happen to this guy.

**Palindrome**

Clthomps wrote:The US army was guarding the west side of the Berlin wall, Most of the units posted there were suicide squads tasked with holding the reds on the bridges until the last man... or reinforcements arrived (very unlikely).

I knew an ex tankie who servered in west Germany and he told me that when he was shown their battle positions no thought had been made to resupply them, they were basically expected to take out 1, hopefully 2, Soviet tanks and then die.

I very much doubt anything will happen here, possibly a token jail term but I can't imagine anything serious happening to him.

**Orlanth**

I don't think there was an extradition treaty with Sweden at the time he entered the country. There isn't a strongly worded one even now.

So long as he stays in his new home he is safe.

**treadhead1944**

In all reality he most likely will get a Dishonorable Discharge, a short jail term, and a request to not come back.

**Frazzled**

awesome. Welcome him back with open arms...then put him against the wall for desertion.

**Hazardous Harry**

Frazzled wrote:awesome. Welcome him back with open arms...then put him against the wall for desertion.

Ha, good ol Frazz.

**reds8n**

.. I assume there's no statute of limitations with regards to going AWOL/ deserting ?

**Pacific**

Really does it matter what happens to him now?

Might make an interesting topic for a book or film, as long as there is at least one car chase, but I can't imagine they would bother to try and punish him for it.

**Ahtman**

Pacific wrote:Really does it matter what happens to him now?

Not from an emotional stand point, but merely from an intellectual one. It just seemed odd to that he just expected something akin to someone waving their finger at him saying not to do that again and then a big hug and a welcome home. If you get caught deserting within a short period the penalties are fairly harsh, but if you never get caught then it is a shrug? I don't think we really need to actively pursue him, but if he does come back to the US he should have to face it in some capacity.

@Relapse: I couldn't find a documentary called "Jumping the Line", do you have a link? That might help give some perspective as it gives precedent for such a situation.

**Jihadin**

Since he popped up in Sweden UCMJ paperwork won't be iniatated yet. He has to be in military legal custody. The military will not expend the resources coming after you if you go AWOL. Eventually though you will be caught via a speeding ticket. Held in local jail till the military aithority arrives to pick you up and off you go to Leavenworth for about 30 days till all UCMJ actions are concluded. Given your Bad Conduct Discharge, zero pay because one of the action of UCMJ is fortfeture of all pay and allowance, and a plane ticket to your last known home of records

NK release that guy Frazz due to health issues. To some who don't know he was in the army way back in the days and waslked across the line Pangmongjung into NK. thinking it was a "better way of life" due to propanganda. Taught english to the NK military and married a japanese who NK kidnapped to teach their soldier japanese. Due to his health all UCMJ action was concluded at Leavenworth and hand delievered to him in SK I believe. His wife was later released by the NK to join him. Both are now in Japan I do believe.

As for chucklehead in Sweden. Question is. Did he at any time falsified any documents to cover his past? Citizenship app if there was one?

**purplefood**

Seems a bit pointless really...
Could you not just inform him that he's been given a bad conduct discharge and leave it at that?
No one seemed to have tried particularly hard to find him...
He could have been dead and not AWOL all this time...

**Orlanth**

A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurusdiction.

Absconding from the US military is a crime in the US, not Sweden.

First the US has to request extradition, then see what the Swedish authorities think.

**Palindrome**

Extradition is very unlikely IMO but as he has now made contact with his family he may well return home which means that he would be back in US jurisdiction.

**Frazzled**

Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurusdiction.

Absconding from the US military is a crime in the US, not Sweden.

First the US has to request extradition, then see what the Swedish authorities think.

The US has jurisidiction over its citizens at all times. There are a slew of laws to that effect.

Demand him back., If Sweden doesn't comply use it as a pretext to get out of NATO.

**purplefood**

Frazzled wrote:
Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurusdiction.

Absconding from the US military is a crime in the US, not Sweden.

First the US has to request extradition, then see what the Swedish authorities think.

The US has jurisidiction over its citizens at all times. There are a slew of laws to that effect.

Demand him back., If Sweden doesn't comply use it as a pretext to get out of NATO.

Wouldn't that mean the US could simply remove all of its citizens from foreign prisons?

**Ahtman**

purplefood wrote:Could you not just inform him that he's been given a bad conduct discharge and leave it at that?

As far as I can tell there is no statute of limitations on desertion, so no, they would not, and should not, leave it at that. Desertion is a pretty serious crime. It doesn't mean they need to behead him either, but being indifferent isn't really an option.

purplefood wrote:No one seemed to have tried particularly hard to find him...

Any evidence, besides the Air Force being unable to find him, to back that up? He was on the Military's Most Wanted list and was still listed on the Air Forces list of fugitives. They would have looked quite a bit initially, but after awhile it turns into a cold case.

He isn't worth pursuing, and I don't think we should, but if he wants to come back to the US he'll need to turn himself in. I imagine it would be similar to the North Korean guy wherein he does a short stint in prison, is stripped of rank and benefits, then sent on his way. Of course this is only if he chooses to come back here.

Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurisdiction

You came to that conclusion from all the people not calling for the US to go in and get him? Looking over the thread no one has called for the US to call for extradition, let alone attempt rendition.
Update: When I wrote that Frazzled hadn't yet called for stealing him away in the night. I still only think anything should happen if he decides to come back to the US. If he wants to hang out bac here he will need to face up for deserting.

Jihadin wrote:Did he at any time falsified any documents to cover his past? Citizenship app if there was one?

Well he was a government employee working under a fake name so I am guessing there have to be some falsified documents somewhere.

**angel of ecstasy**

Makes sense. He's a coward, a turncoat and a traitor. He'd fit right in.

**purplefood**

angel of ecstasy wrote:Makes sense. He's a coward, a turncoat and a traitor. He'd fit right in.

Turncoat and traitor would be incorrect given what occurred. He didn't join the USSR or reveal any secrets.

**AustonT**

Ahtman wrote:
purplefood wrote:Could you not just inform him that he's been given a bad conduct discharge and leave it at that?

As far as I can tell there is no statute of limitations on desertion, so no, they would not, and should not, leave it at that. Desertion is a pretty serious crime. It doesn't mean they need to behead him either, but being indifferent isn't really an option.

purplefood wrote:No one seemed to have tried particularly hard to find him...

Any evidence, besides the Air Force being unable to find him, to back that up? He was on the Military's Most Wanted list and was still listed on the Air Forces list of fugitives. They would have looked quite a bit initially, but after awhile it turns into a cold case.

He isn't worth pursuing, and I don't think we should, but if he wants to come back to the US he'll need to turn himself in. I imagine it would be similar to the North Korean guy wherein he does a short stint in prison, is stripped of rank and benefits, then sent on his way. Of course this is only if he chooses to come back here.

Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurisdiction

You came to that conclusion from all the people not calling for the US to go in and get him? Looking over the thread no one has called for the US to call for extradition, let alone attempt rendition.
Update: When I wrote that Frazzled hadn't yet called for stealing him away in the night. I still only think anything should happen if he decides to come back to the US. If he wants to hang out bac here he will need to face up for deserting.

Jihadin wrote:Did he at any time falsified any documents to cover his past? Citizenship app if there was one?

Well he was a government employee working under a fake name so I am guessing there have to be some falsified documents somewhere.

Desertion is a pretty serious crime, one rarely used. He's AWOL unless the AF pushes it and AWOL is basically the bottom rung of the ladder, they don't care enough to look for you; they probably wont extradite you either. The only AWOLs they chase are KAWOLs because they may have confidential information.

**Orlanth**

Ahtman wrote:

Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurisdiction

You came to that conclusion from all the people not calling for the US to go in and get him? Looking over the thread no one has called for the US to call for extradition, let alone attempt rendition.

You miss the point entirely, people were expecting for him to be imprisoned (ignoring trollish comments for him to be shot). This can only happen if the US authorities secure an extradition or convince the Swedish authorities they should try him.

.....will get a Dishonorable Discharge, a short jail term, and .....
.....I very much doubt anything will happen here, possibly a token jail term but.....
....Welcome him back with open arms...then put him against the wall for desertion. (included for completeness)
.....I am not an expert on the USCMJ but I have to think that the penalty for desertion is more than 'a few weeks' in prison......

**Frazzled**

purplefood wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurusdiction.

Absconding from the US military is a crime in the US, not Sweden.

First the US has to request extradition, then see what the Swedish authorities think.

The US has jurisidiction over its citizens at all times. There are a slew of laws to that effect.

Demand him back., If Sweden doesn't comply use it as a pretext to get out of NATO.

Wouldn't that mean the US could simply remove all of its citizens from foreign prisons?

It just means they also have jurisidiction. There can be concurrent jurisidiction.

**Orlanth**

purplefood wrote:
Wouldn't that mean the US could simply remove all of its citizens from foreign prisons?

No, the US (or any other country) has no jurisdiction to do that either, with exception of those persons who havwe diplomatic immunity at the time of the alleged offense.
If a crime is committed by a foreign national in a country the best they can hope for is consular support and possible political pressure. unless the arrest is politically motivated the later is unlikely to be forthcoming even if the nations legal system is suspect. Commit serious crimes in a shithole country for example and expect to do time in a shithole jail.

**Ahtman**

AustonT wrote: He's AWOL unless the AF pushes it and AWOL is basically the bottom rung of the ladder, they don't care enough to look for you; they probably wont extradite you either. The only AWOLs they chase are KAWOLs because they may have confidential information.

The definitions I found, including in the USCMJ defined desertion as AWOL with no intent to return the unit.

(a) Any member of the armed forces who—

(1) without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently;

(2) quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or

(3) without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another one of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the United States Note: This provision has been held not to state a separate offense by the United States Court of Military Appeals in United States v. Huff, 7 U.S.C.M.A. 247, 22 C.M.R. 37 (1956), is guilty of desertion.

This seems to describe his actions. Or are you referring to the process? It is just AWOL until the suspect is in custody and then the determination is made?

Air Force Special Investigations page on David Hemler

It may be that he was on the most wanted lists becuase he abonded his post in Electronic Security, which I imagine is at least requires a Security Clearance, if not TS.

**Frazzled**

You came to that conclusion from all the people not calling for the US to go in and get him? Looking over the thread no one has called for the US to call for extradition, let alone attempt rendition.
Update: When I wrote that Frazzled hadn't yet called for stealing him away in the night. I still only think anything should happen if he decides to come back to the US. If he wants to hang out bac here he will need to face up for deserting.

I don't advocate stealing him away at night. Ideally we would hire mercenary cat ninjas to repel down from the ceiling while he is eating lunch at a cafeteria and whisk him away with a hearty "ZOINK!"

**Ahtman**

Orlanth wrote:
Ahtman wrote:

Orlanth wrote:A lot of posters here mistakenly think he is under US jurisdiction

You came to that conclusion from all the people not calling for the US to go in and get him? Looking over the thread no one has called for the US to call for extradition, let alone attempt rendition.

You miss the point entirely, people were expecting for him to be imprisoned

Until Frazzled called for retrieval, the mentions of imprisonment were if he turned himself over to US authorities. If he does turn himself over to US authorities, or is caught trying to sneak into the US, he will be imprisoned, even if just to determine what to do with him.