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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us June 11, 2005 SOU student goes AWOL from Guard By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings A Southern Oregon University computer science major set to graduate Saturday failed to report for two weeks of Oregon National Guard training on Thursday and has been classified absent without leave. Sgt. Dave Niehaus, 38, a supply clerk, had already missed two consecutive drill weekends, he says, because he is frustrated that the military is dragging its feet on a medical disability report that would place him on limited duty. When Niehaus, who is attached to Southern Oregon-based HHC 1-186, failed to contact commanders before his unit reported Thursday for a two-week training in Idaho, his status became AWOL. The National Guard issued an apprehension order to the Ashland Police Department on Thursday evening, according to Capt. Christopher Sturdevant, the headquarters company commander at the Ashland National Guard Armory. The order allows officers to detain Niehaus without civilian criminal charges and transfer him to the military’s control. “An AWOL really is a soldier’s decision,” Sturdevant said. “Most people who get upset with the military fail to [effectively] communicate.” A National Guardsman can only be classified as AWOL when the soldier is missing from duty, such as during a weekend drill. AWOL status does not apply when the soldier is not required to be at a formation, which is why Niehaus could not be contacted by law enforcement officials, at the request of the National Guard, until the weekend. “We make every attempt to recover you,” said Capt. Jeff Copeck, the personnel officer at the Ashland Armory. “Then, if you don’t [come back], we’ll process you for a discharge.” Niehaus, who has been a guardsman for 16 years, says he understands the consequences of his actions. He will forfeit his $300 monthly paycheck, be dishonorably discharged from the military and lose access to the military retirement benefits he would have been awarded after 20 years of service — but Niehaus isn’t concerned with the repercussions. “After 12 months of denying me medical attention, I got mad and walked out the damn door,” Niehaus said, explaining he has a long-standing knee injury that was aggravated a year ago and the paperwork has not been approved and filed with the state office. “I had just been fed up with their inactivity.” The necessary information, which includes a physical exam and information from a doctor describing the injury, has been sent to the state office, according to Sturdevant, but Niehaus has not responded to phone calls and certified letters from National Guard officials. He also avoided contact with Ashland police officers who came to Niehaus’ home last weekend looking for him, Sturdevant said. “There has been every attempt for this to be taken care of,” said Sturdevant, who could only recall three instances in his 14-year military career when soldiers had gone AWOL. One had been killed in gang-related violence; another was incarcerated in a Tijuana, Mexico, jail. Niehaus is the third. Staff writer Jennifer Squires can be reached at 482-3456 x 3019 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams