6 of 12 U.S. deserters in Japan remain unaccounted for

Friday 31st July, 06:36 AM JST

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Proffesor at 02:42 PM JST - 31st July

Big deal over a half-dozen BLACKS going AWOL is called-for.

I beg your pardon, mael?
timorborder at 03:20 PM JST - 31st July

Some people have the misguided impression that joining the military is just any other job. Maybe it is or maybe it isn't, but the fact of the matter is when you put your name on the dotted line, you are signing up to a commitment for better or worse. There is none of this "I didn't sign up for this crxp" attitude. Unlike civvie street you just cannot goof off when it suits you. They used to shoot deserters. How I wish for the good ol' days.
ebisen at 06:22 PM JST - 31st July

You swear in voluntarily when you join the military.

FryingMonkey - the problem with those kids is that they don't really know what they are swearing in, and the first "boot kicked in the face" from the sergeant actually opens their eyes. Not everyone is strong enough to be a soldier, ya know?
idgiveher12 at 06:41 PM JST - 31st July

Why don't they all do a "Jenkins"! Bugger off to North Korea for 40yrs, then return to Japan national heroes & get a fast-track to a permanent visa thrown in for good measure with minimum fuss!
usaexpat at 11:40 PM JST - 31st July

These guys could have gotten drunk and ended up in the ocean for all we know, if they're dead they'll never be found. I can't imagine that it's too hard to find an American with no gaijin card.
sharky1 at 11:55 PM JST - 31st July

Looks like a pretty good system to me.
Good_Jorb at 12:05 AM JST - 1st August

Where does the article state that the police will soley be focusing on the 6 deserters and not the 300,000+ other illegal immigrants or the murderers, rapists, and arsonists of Japan? Why blow a simple article completely out of portion? The article says the appropriate angency are looking for them, just like they would be looking for any other criminal.
pawatan at 10:43 AM JST - 1st August

Why blow a simple article completely out of portion?

Because it's the favorite sport of the JT community.
telecasterplayer at 11:37 AM JST - 1st August

Gosh, the U.S. military is the patrioticest, peachy keenest, star spangledest fighting force of lovable Joes and Janes ever assembled! Why would anyone desert?
stirfry at 04:26 PM JST - 1st August

stuck in japan somewhere...i do feel sorry for them
USNinJapan2 at 04:30 PM JST - 1st August

Statistician

Local residents should be informed if deserters are likely to be hiding out in the area.

Fine, then the police should be doing the same for Self Defense Force deserters of which I guarantee you there are more than 12 at any given time.
elbudamexicano at 09:14 AM JST - 2nd August

Many US military love being stationed here in Japan but now and then, some guys just don't fit in, feel homesick etc..and they go AWOL. Shouganai ne! In other word's, this is just part of life. It could happen back in the USA, Iraq etc..I feel sorry for this guys, I do hope the US and Japanese governments are too harsh on these young lads.
USARonin at 10:14 PM JST - 4th August

a sergeant's boot in the face

What?
Den Den at 10:23 AM JST - 6th August

So trained killers, no legal papers, probably no money...not a good scenario.
Sarge at 10:25 AM JST - 6th August

idqiveher12 - Good one.