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Wednesday, June 24, 1987 THE STARS AND STRIPES * Page 5Vietnam-era deserter will be discharged from Marine CorpsQUANTICO, Vi (AP) — A Vietnam War deserter who surrendered after beingat lajgc far 17 years is being discharced from ihc Marine Corps “for the good of Ihe service' inslHtd of being court-martialed, lhc Marines said Monday,Douglas G. Beane, who has been held at Ihe QiinnticO Marine Base since June 9, admitted to being guilty of charges ordesertion, dealing in the black market and ihrcsncrting to kill another Marine, said Gunnery bgl. Dean Chamberlain, a base spokesman,Beane, 39* of Rochester, Vt* had faced tri?J an those charges in Vietnam when he deserted. He was arrested in Australia as he applied for a visa.to visit Lhc United States.Beane wilt be restricted to the base until his separation is complete* which should be in several days, Chamberlain said.The decision to give Beane a discharge on other than honorable conditions was made by Lt, Gen. Frank E. Petersen — commander of the Marine Corps Development and Education Command at Quantico — based on Beane’s request for separation.The decision was made on the recommendation of the command staff judgeadvocate* Col J.P. McHcniyt andBeane's commanding officer* Maj. R,L. Rippy, Chamberlain said.Beane was arrested in December inAustralia, where he had lived the past 17 years. He was applying at the time at the U.S. Consulate for a passport so he couldvisit his sick father in Vermont,Australia’s highes: court blocked his extradition in April on grounds the arrest warrant was invalid and bwfluse Beane had not committed any indictable offense in Australia.Beane, who was 17 when he entered the Marines* surrendered to U.S. authorities and was relumed to the United States on June 8. He remained in confinement at Quantico for nine days until he was allowed the run of the base.He deserted in 1970, two weeks before his tour of duty in Vietnam was to end.The charges against Beane when he deserted included currency manipulation, solicitation of another Marine to assist ip black-marketing U.S. and foreign currency, communication of a threat to kill that Marine and a previous desertion, Chamberlain said.When Beane was recaptured, the Marines said the disposition of his casecould range rrom a discharge tn a court-martial. Technically, he could have facedthe death penally if he had been COn-vicledofdnttrtion.**My hopes ate tthey will take into consideration Che lime. I wanl 10 svU my family/* Jic said in an interview with a Vermont Ldevision station afler his return to the United Stales, i want to see my parents allcasLBeane’s father, Donald Beane, lives in Rutland, VtH aod suffer* from circulatory ailmenls and other probEcms.Beane’s moiher, 5car-old Christine Beane of West Rutland, Vt., said shespoke last week with Beanes Marine lawyer, Maj. David Henderson, and he led her to be almost sure at (the discharge) was going to happen/''Mrs. Beane has no telephone, and said the family received word of lhc discharge late Monday afternoon when officials at Quantico called her granddaughter. She said she then cafltd her son from her granddaughter’s phone.‘He was rally happy and looking forward to coining back home/ she said.Beane has a wife and children in Australia and is expected to return there after a visit with his family Ln Vermont.
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European Stars and Stripes
Darmstadt, Hesse, DE
Wed, Jun 24, 1987
Page 5
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Tyson M.
IL, USA 24 Dec 2021
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Allgemeine Kirchen Zeitung
European Stars and Stripes
