[JURIST] Canadian citizen Allen Abney, arrested [JURIST report] earlier this month at a US border crossing for deserting the US Marine Corps [official website] in the Vietnam war, said Monday at his first public appearance since his release [JURIST report] from military custody that he was well-treated while being held at the Marine base at Camp Pendleton [official website], California.

Abney was let go after receiving a less than honorable discharge [JURIST report], but was not court-martialed and therefore will not have a criminal record for deserting in 1968. Abney told reporters: "I was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy by all of the officers, the (noncommissioned officers) and the enlisting personnel that I came in contact with" and said that US officials had even bought him a ticket so he could get home in time for the funeral of his brother, who passed away while he was in custody. CTV has more.