Skip to main content

ATTENTION: This site is no longer active but remains as an archive.

Iraq Veterans Against the War has become About Face: Veterans Against the War. About Face can be found at aboutfaceveterans.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Join IVAW

Donate to IVAW

  • About
    • Founding of IVAW
    • Mission, Values, and Vision
    • War in Afghanistan
    • Why We Are against the Wars
    • Resolutions
    • IVAW Timeline
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Committee
    • Staff
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Operation Recovery
    • Winter Soldier
      • Breakdown of the Military
      • Civilian Testimony
      • Corporate Pillaging
      • Cost of War at Home
      • Crisis in Veterans Healthcare
      • Future of GI Resistance
      • Gender and Sexuality
      • Legacy of GI Resistance
      • Racism and War
      • Response to DoD
      • Rules of Engagement
      • Press Coverage
      • Press Releases
    • Right to Heal
  • Members
  • Resources
    • AWOL
    • Active Duty
    • Conscientious Objector
    • Depleted Uranium
    • History of Resistance
    • IRR Reactivation
    • Lariam
    • PTSD
    • Profiles of Resisters
    • Resources for Veterans
    • Stop Loss
    • Women's Resources
    • Mesothelioma
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Press
    • Speaker Request

AWOL soldier ordered to finish tour in Afghanistan

published by Jose Vasquez on 01/08/11 9:29pm
Posted to: 
Staff

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Kentucky soldier who went AWOL after he said the military wasn't treating his mental health issues has been ordered to deploy to finish his tour in Afghanistan.

Spc. Jeff Hanks, who turned himself in on Veterans Day, says his command has ordered him to return to Afghanistan immediately and he expects to leave within days on a flight back to his unit.

The Fort Campbell-based soldier told The Associated Press on Friday that he still believes his issues have not been adequately treated.

"My family doesn't want me to go, but I am not disobeying a command order," he said.

Kelly DeWitt, a spokeswoman at the post on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line, confirmed Hanks is scheduled to deploy within the next few days, but declined to comment further on his case.

The 30-year-old Army infantryman went AWOL and returned home to North Carolina during his mid-tour leave last year, but turned himself in on Veterans Day. Since returning to the post on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line, he said he has been given medications to treat his headaches and nightmares and has been told to seek counseling in Afghanistan.

Hanks is a member of the 101st Airborne Division, which has been deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said his post-traumatic stress dates to his 2008 deployment to Iraq.

He spent about six months in Afghanistan last year and said he suffered a concussion when a mortar landed nearby. He said counselors outside of the military have diagnosed him with PTSD, but he hasn't been treated since he returned. He said he also took an MRI scan that was ordered by his audiologist, but he has not yet received the results of that screening.

"It's been stressful to be here (at Fort Campbell)," Hanks said, noting that he doesn't think anything has changed since he held a press conference last November outside the gates of the installation.

Going back to his unit in Afghanistan, he said, "makes me anxious." He expects he will have to complete another four months in Afghanistan to finish his one-year tour.

Supporters from Iraq Veterans Against the War said they planned on Saturday to deliver to Hanks' command a letter detailing what they believe are "violations of Hanks' right to heal."

Hanks said he is not anti-war, but said the group that is supporting him "understands the situation I am in."

Hanks is married to a former soldier and has two girls, ages 4 and 5. His commitment to the Army lasts another 2 1/2 years. He doesn't want to leave and face military punishment because he could lose his health care coverage.

"I think the best way to get help is to just wait until I get out of the Army," he said.

KRISTIN M. HALL http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8560/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=aofQhXjD

© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Rachel Moody's picture

Fall Internships in Media and Development at IVAW New York

IVAW is currently seeking interns in Fundraising & Development, Media & Public Relations, and New Media for Fall 2011. Applicants should send a cover letter and resume or C.V., along with two professional or academic...

War Voices: Building Community After a Decade of Struggle at Home and Abroad

October 7th, 2011 will mark 10 years since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the start of the Global War on Terror. To commemorate this sad anniversary, we are calling for a month of local and national activities from...

IVAW at LA Rising!

Members of the Los Angeles chapter were joined by organizers from the Operation Recovery Campaign to attend the LA Rising festival at the Memorial Coliseum. The event, headlined by Rage Against the Machine, was...

Board Elections and Resolutions Results

Convention 2011 was a big success! Over 100 members and allies were in attendance.  We will share more about the trainings, workshops, plenaries, and post photos and video in the coming days. In the meantime, the results of...

Convention Broadcasting Live!

Go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ivaw-national-convention-2011 to watch now. Check out our convention guide to keep up with the latest happenings.

New IVAW Promo Video

Please check out our new promo video created in time for the L.A. Rising Festival at the end of the month.  A big thanks to Torrey Townsend, David Zeiger, and Ryan Harvey for their contributions!

Pages

  • « First
  • ‹ Prev
  • …
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • …
  • Next ›
  • Last »

Supporter Newsletter!

Donations

Make a single donation or become an IVAW sustainer by making your donation a recurring one. Please consider making your generous gift right now.
Donate Online Today!

Speaker Request

Please be advised that we get many speaker requests, but regret that we are sometimes unable to fill them.
Speaker Request

Joining IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001.
Join IVAW

Navigation

  • About
  • Events
  • Campaigns
  • Committees
  • Chapters
  • Members
  • Resources
  • Contact