Darrell Anderson
Encyclopedia
Darrell Anderson is a former United States Army
soldier and anti-Iraq war activist
.
with the US Army's 1st Armored Division
. He was awarded a Purple Heart
after being injured by shrapnel
in a roadside bombing in April 2004. His injuries were sufficient that he was rotated back to the United States early after serving only seven of the normal twelve months.
Facing the prospect of a second deployment to Iraq, Anderson deserted and fled to Canada
, where he joined the War Resisters Support Campaign
and became a vocal anti-war activist in Toronto
. He later told The Globe and Mail
that he had become disillusioned with the war after (he said) he was ordered to execute a family of four in Baghdad
. Anderson said, "I went to Iraq willingly... I wanted to die for my country. I thought I was going to go there and protect my family back home. All I was doing was killing other families there."
Anderson spent nearly two years in Canada where he unsuccessfully applied for political refugee
status and was unable to obtain a work permit despite being one of about a dozen or so who have fled to Canada and sought the assistance of Toronto attorney Jeffry House
, who is representing them. House himself is a Vietnam-era draft evader. On September 24, 2006, Anderson told reporters he had decided to return to the US to face military authorities. He criticized Canada for its involvement in Afghanistan
. "I'm very critical of Canada. They're in Afghanistan doing the same things. The war on terror is all part of the wrong war," he said.
On October 3, 2006, Anderson surrendered himself to US authorities at Fort Knox
Army base in Kentucky. He was accompanied by his mother, Anita Anderson; and his stepfather, Steve Dennis. His mother has claimed that the military only cured his physical injuries and that he was not given adequate psychological counseling for the emotional trauma he received in the war, a claim that Anderson has reasserted himself.
Anderson's lawyer, Jim Fennerty, said that under the terms of his surrender, Anderson will receive a less-than-honorable discharge
from the Army, but will not receive a prison sentence or face a court martial. Fennerty claimed the military would process Anderson and release him within five days.
On October 6, 2006 he was released, and it was announced that he will not be court-martialed. He currently resides with his mother in Kentucky.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier and anti-Iraq war activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
.
Military service and desertion
Anderson joined the U.S. Army in January 2003 to get money for college and to serve his country. He later served in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
with the US Army's 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
. He was awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
after being injured by shrapnel
Fragmentation (weaponry)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
in a roadside bombing in April 2004. His injuries were sufficient that he was rotated back to the United States early after serving only seven of the normal twelve months.
Facing the prospect of a second deployment to Iraq, Anderson deserted and fled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he joined the War Resisters Support Campaign
War Resisters Support Campaign
The War Resisters Support Campaign is a Canadian non-profit community organization, founded in April 2004 in Toronto, Ontario to mobilize support among Canadians and worldwide to convince the Canadian government to offer sanctuary to all U.S...
and became a vocal anti-war activist in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He later told The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
that he had become disillusioned with the war after (he said) he was ordered to execute a family of four in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Anderson said, "I went to Iraq willingly... I wanted to die for my country. I thought I was going to go there and protect my family back home. All I was doing was killing other families there."
Anderson spent nearly two years in Canada where he unsuccessfully applied for political refugee
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
status and was unable to obtain a work permit despite being one of about a dozen or so who have fled to Canada and sought the assistance of Toronto attorney Jeffry House
Jeffry House
Jeffry A. House is a lawyer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is best-known for his efforts on behalf and representation of fugitive American soldiers and Native Canadian protesters.-American soldiers:...
, who is representing them. House himself is a Vietnam-era draft evader. On September 24, 2006, Anderson told reporters he had decided to return to the US to face military authorities. He criticized Canada for its involvement in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. "I'm very critical of Canada. They're in Afghanistan doing the same things. The war on terror is all part of the wrong war," he said.
On October 3, 2006, Anderson surrendered himself to US authorities at Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
Army base in Kentucky. He was accompanied by his mother, Anita Anderson; and his stepfather, Steve Dennis. His mother has claimed that the military only cured his physical injuries and that he was not given adequate psychological counseling for the emotional trauma he received in the war, a claim that Anderson has reasserted himself.
Anderson's lawyer, Jim Fennerty, said that under the terms of his surrender, Anderson will receive a less-than-honorable discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
from the Army, but will not receive a prison sentence or face a court martial. Fennerty claimed the military would process Anderson and release him within five days.
On October 6, 2006 he was released, and it was announced that he will not be court-martialed. He currently resides with his mother in Kentucky.