Airman Arrested 40 Years After Deserting Air Force – His Hidden Double Life
Seminole County Sheriff's Office
On The Run.
Life in the United States Air Force isn’t an easy one but the dedicated few who serve are a proud group. But every once in a while there might be a guy or two in the Air Force that doesn’t fulfill their duty to the country. This action is not only unprofessional but also illegal and one man who ran off from the Air Force 40 years ago has discovered the hard way.
On July 6th, 1977 airman Jeffrey Michels did not report for duty at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. It may have taken four decades but eventually, Michels turned up living in Seminole County Florida and was arrested for desertion. Going by the alias Jeffrey Lantz he lived a fairly routine life with a wife, kids and even operated a construction company called Atlantic Development.
Although it has not yet been revealed how he found the U.S. Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations has issued an arrest. There is no statute of limitations for desertion and he will be forced to stand trial for his actions.
“He will be given a discharge under ‘Other Than Honorable’ conditions.”
– US Air Force
In the end, it is better to do things right because you simply can’t run from your fate.
