Biography
James Burmeister was a U.S. Army Iraq veteran who went to Canada in 2007 rather than redeploy and publicly criticized military tactics he had witnessed. After returning voluntarily, he was court-martialed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in July 2008 and received a confinement sentence. Contemporary accounts differ on the sentence's length. A report published October 30, 2008 confirmed that he had been released and was home with his family. His exact custody duration and any later discharge upgrade remain unverified.
Custody sources and correction
- Eugene Weekly, Eugene soldier goes to prison, July 24, 2008, p. 8
- Ann Wright, The Costs of War: The Parents' Agony, July 18, 2008
- Laura Kaminker, October 30, 2008 release update
- Nick Kyonka, Toronto Star, July 17, 2008, preserved quotation on Army.ca
A contemporaneous Eugene Weekly report dated June 19, 2008, page 11 states that James Burmeister turned himself in to the Army at Fort Knox in March 2008. The report gives no exact surrender day and does not establish when confinement began. Its reference to up to one year in prison describes possible punishment before trial, not the sentence imposed or time actually served.
