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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| U.S. Army Lieutenant makes wrong turn - joins Legion. |
| 2014-12-17 |
| [Daily Mail] A US Army Lieutenant who deserted to join the French Foreign Legion has been jailed for four years following a court martial. Second Lieutenant Lawrence Franks, 28, graduated in second place from West Point military academy in 2008 before deserting the following year. Lt Franks vanished from Fort Drum in New York state in 2009 and despite a massive search of nearby woods, there was no sign of any body. He's no longer suicidal, currently 3-3 in French, and a master chef with book deal pending. Not bad for a second place USAMA cadet. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #8 So if L Tee gets 4 years then Bergtoad gets what ..40? |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2014-12-17 15:18 |
| #7 He is a natural Soldier. The US government sucks with talent placement. |
| Posted by: newc 2014-12-17 13:24 |
| #6 I'm a grad who was thirty years senior to this guy. The US Government spent a lot of money on this guy's education. A LOT. He owed the country repayment of his education. From the sounds of things, he was pretty unbalanced, mentally. It may have been for the better that he never led US troops in combat. In any case, he will now do four years hard time as a private at Leavenworth. That is still not giving the US value in return for its considerable investment in his education. Once he has served his time, he should be left to carve his own path - as a convicted felon. Three of his classmates - all First Lieutenants - have been killed in action during the global war on terror (see http://www.westpointaog.org/inmemoriam?chid=239 - the USMA Class of 2004 took the biggest hit, with 12 KIA thus far). The real test of this guy's character will unfold ten and more years down the road. What can he make of himself? In his USMA photo, the gold stars on his collar meant that he graduated in the top 5% of his class academically - which translates to very exceptional academic skills. The only credit I will give him is that he turned himself in, to face the music. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2014-12-17 12:03 |
| #5 You are wrong. Shipman. Once you are in no questions are asked but before that you have to tell the Legion everything about you and hiding something is definitely a bad idea. Don't know how it was in former decades but nowdays Foreign Legion does not accept murderers and does not accept rapers. I hold it from a Major from the Foreign Legion. |
| Posted by: JFM 2014-12-17 11:34 |
| #4 They ask now, but do they tell? I'll bet they're pretty tight with that info? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-12-17 10:05 |
| #3 It is long ago since the Legion had a policy of not asking questions where someone came from. |
| Posted by: BernardZ 2014-12-17 09:34 |
| #2 I have been told that Ft Drum leads the Army in AWOL and desertion charges. Been there: it is truly a unpleasant place. The weather sucks and the locals see you as a tool to be used. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2014-12-17 07:34 |
| #1 Had he gone off to Canada and smoked pot for a few years, we could be seeing a presidential request for pardon from Plains, GA. Ripping up your draft card and carting off to Canada is much preferred. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-12-17 02:01 |