Living a lie for almost 30 years - U.S. Air Force deserter David Hemler steps forward in Sweden in a bid to clear his name.
The 49-year-old deserted from a U.S. base in Germany in 1984 aged 21 after getting involved in a pacifist church and hitchhiked to Sweden where he assumed a new identity.
U.S. officials have now arrived in Sweden to confirm his identity and ask him to face trial in the U.S.
But Hemler says he is prepared never to leave Sweden if it means avoiding the 30-year maximum jail sentence he could face.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CLAIMS TO BE U.S. AIR FORCE DESERTER, DAVID HEMLER, SAYING:
"That would be the end of my life. I could never be a functional person coming out of a prison when I'm 80 years old and my parents would be gone, my small children would be 31 and 33."
He believes the 28 years of separation from his family is punishment enough.
SOUNDBITE) (English) CLAIMS TO BE U.S. AIR FORCE DESERTER, DAVID HEMLER, SAYING:
"It's hard to believe for me that a basic mistake I made when I was 17 and signed a contract, it seems so strange that I'm almost 50 today and I should be punished because I had signed a contract that I should have thought more about before I signed it."
Despite the risks, however, Hemler says he has no regrets about revealing his secret, which he had even kept from his wife.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CLAIMS TO BE U.S. AIR FORCE DESERTER, DAVID HEMLER, SAYING:
"I know that there could be some problems but I'll take them, it is the price I have to pay to be able to see my parents again and for my children to learn their grandparents before it's too late."
The father of three is now hoping to prove to U.S. officials that he hasn't been a security risk since he hid in Sweden.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
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