Erick Anderson does not have to go back to Iraq

Army rescinds order sending Twinsburg native back to Iraq
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 03:57 p.m. EDT, Jun 10, 2008

Erick Anderson learned today he will not be called up to return to Iraq.

''Obviously I'm relieved about not having to deploy,'' the Twinsburg native said this afternoon, shortly after U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette's office released an e-mail alert about the Army's decision.

''I think it was a common sense answer by the Army to a delicate problem,'' Anderson said.

Anderson said the efforts of U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette and his attorney, Neal Puckett, along with news reports ''generated enough pressure that the Army saw they needed to make a quick determination.''

The Army in May had ordered Anderson to report to Fort Benning, Ga., by Aug. 3 — even though he was separated from the Army in 2006, six months after the Army dismissed murder and other charges against him.

He went on Individual Ready Reserve, often called ''inactive ready reserve.''

LaTourette on Monday stepped up the pressure, issuing a news release revealing that the Army wanted Anderson to return to Iraq.

LaTourette said Monday that he was calling on U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to ''intervene immediately'' on behalf of the 29-year-old first lieutenant.

Puckett had been planning to argue that Anderson suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. LaTourette released a letter Monday showing a military psychiatrist has concluded Anderson suffers from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences in the Army.

The psychiatrist said ''administration separation from the Individual Ready Reserves would serve the best interests of the U.S. Army and [Anderson].''

The Army falsely accused Anderson of murder ''not once, but twice,'' LaTourette said Monday.

''To have this sort of replay after he went through that experience, which has led to post-traumatic syndrome, among other things, is an outrage.''

Normally, personnel on Individual Ready Reserve would not be called up except in emergencies.

The charges against him involved the deaths of two people in the Sadr City area of Baghdad in August 2004. In each case, two men under his command were convicted of murder. Anderson maintained his innocence throughout.

Anderson now works as a project engineer for a company in Iowa.

Erick Anderson learned today he will not be called up to return to Iraq.

''Obviously I'm relieved about not having to deploy,'' the Twinsburg native said this afternoon, shortly after U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette's office released an e-mail alert about the Army's decision.

''I think it was a common sense answer by the Army to a delicate problem,'' Anderson said.

Anderson said the efforts of U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette and his attorney, Neal Puckett, along with news reports ''generated enough pressure that the Army saw they needed to make a quick determination.''

The Army in May had ordered Anderson to report to Fort Benning, Ga., by Aug. 3 — even though he was separated from the Army in 2006, six months after the Army dismissed murder and other charges against him.
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