European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse Deserters not being hunted army says by Cindy Killion staff writer there s no pressing interest on the Side of the army to find the deserters living i Eastern Europe a spokeswoman for the army to . Bean army spokesperson at the Pentagon the army cannot apprehend any deserter living in a former communist country. If that individual wants to return to the United states she said he should Contact the nearest embassy which will then Contact the army the army will get All necessary visa passport documents and pay for the flight Back to the United states bean said. According to it. Col. John mix cell of army judge advocate criminal Law division the process is generally something like this the individual will be apprehended by customs officials at the port of entry which is usually Kennedy Airport in new York and turned Over to the Mili tary police who usually come from fort Hamilton . The maps will take the individual to the near est personnel control facility usually fort Dix no. When the Soldier deserted his unit should have prepared a deserter packet which is on file in the a tragic ending Charlie Lucas must have been Ati extraordinary person deserters or others interviewed Felt compelled to mention what a Fine person the late Charlie Lucas was. No one seemed to know or care to talk about the reasons Lucas deserted in the Early 1950s. Very Little information was available on his Early life other than that he was born in Ohio in 1916. Lucas numerous people said would Stop on the Stets of Bautzen to carry Home a heavy bag for old ladies. He was a popular Boxer in the City and the locals liked to have him around As much As the deserters did. Lucas they said kept the Promise he made on his Mother s grave never to touch alcohol. One Day in the mid-1950s, Lucas turned on the Gas in his room ind died. It was supposed o be his wedding Day some claim. Sonic said his Fiancee jilted him at the altar and that s Why he took his own life. Others claim the. In tended Bride was the i daughter of a High placed communist official who was against the marriage and had it stopped. Erika Avent a widow of another de Serter and close Friend said Lucas wanted to be a Good communist but did More Reading in the Bible than in communist literature. Manfred Noack who was the East Ger Charles Lucas Man Liaison to the deserters said when he went to Lucas room to help pick up the body a Bible and Karl Marx Book were on the table. He could t reconcile the two Noack said. It was too much for Edre Avis military s personnel computers. The packet will be pulled and charges will be read. If there arc no criminal or capital offences listed the individual can request an administrative Dis charge in lieu of court martial. 1 he is then placed on leave status until his Dis charge is approved. His discharge will be an other than honorable " mix cell also said an individual Ean Contact the army before leaving eur Iupe to expedite the process. He told of one instance where an individual had everything ready before he landed in the United Stales was picked up at Midal Ter noon and his Dis charge was Complete by 8 . Is Carlos Bonglo annl the International Solidarity club in Bautzen East Germany served As Home for deserters. Continued from Page 6 7. States but got a divorce before going East. Avent became a Crane operator and a member of the German soviet Friendship club but he avoided pure political meetings she said. He was Well liked at work and by the neighbourhood because to was Al ways willing u Chip in and help. He was always levelheaded. He did everything very with our four Ehi Idren Avent. Said.-. Is Carlos Bongioanni Willie agent s widow Erika we were Young and there were parties dances and films he also suffered from homesickness quite a bit she said. But after his father s death in 1972, he did t have any More parents and his homesickness faded. ".-. I wrote to his sister so that Willie could hear from someone Back Home she wrote and still writes to this Day. She plans to visit me this summer and maybe next year i la go to North All mail came via Berlin and was Eon Truilo by the Iasi she said. Willie and Erika Avent on their wedding Day. Avent deserted in 1956. -.,- .---7 you can imagine How the Stasi kept track of these people when they first came Over. One of them could have been a spy but they not Only of the foreigners. They even came into the House one Day to Sec if everything was All right. I told them they did to have to Check up of us and they never Narnback. Chher americans that lived in inc dub Dis appeared. I la bet any amount h m ,., t A. Vie.-. I them of v is a
