Supporters of U.S. war resister Cliff Cornell, who sought refuge on Gabriola Island for nearly three years, want him out of jail and home by the holidays.

James Branum, Cornell’s lawyer, said he has submitted a clemency application on behalf of Cornell and expects to hear back from the U.S. military by early December.

“We’ve asked if they would give him at least one day off his sentence, but preferably that he be released before Christmas,” he said. “It’s very frustrating, they kind of do things when they want to.”

Cornell’s supporters began a letter writing campaign last spring to try to reduce his 12-month sentence in a military prison.

Branum said he took 63 of the best letters – 44 of which were written by Gabriola residents – and submitted them along with the application.

Cornell joined the U.S. Army in 2002 for the civilian job opportunities he was told he would have once he had military experience on his resumé.

When his unit was scheduled to go to Iraq in January 2005, he quietly left the country instead.

“I didn’t feel like killing innocent people,” Cornell told the News Bulletin last December.

He made his way to Gabriola from Toronto in 2005, where he settled and found work at Village Foods grocery store.

His application for refugee status was declined by the Canadian government last December and he turned himself in at the border in February.

Cornell was sentenced to 12 months in prison and received a bad conduct discharge from the army – one step above a dishonourable discharge.

Branum expects the military court will grant the application to have one day removed from Cornell’s sentence, but he probably won’t be home for Christmas. He said if Cornell’s sentence is reduced to less than 12 months, it will make it easier for him to re-enter Canada in the future.

Once out, Cornell plans to live with family in Arkansas and attend trade school to make himself as attractive as possible to re-enter Canada.

“His eventual goal of course is to go back to Canada,” said Branum. “Cliff feels his home is on Gabriola Island. He felt like he fit in there. He wants to go back.”

The U.S.-based group, Courage to Resist, is fundraising to help cover Cornell’s legal expenses.

The Toronto-based War Resisters Support Campaign is also fundraising to help Cornell once he’s released from military prison.

Spokeswoman Michelle Robidoux said the group plans to help Cornell with his application to re-enter the country and has begun talking with politicians about what is required for Cornell to return to Gabriola.