Profiles of U.S. military servicepersons who found the courage to resist unjust war. This section in still under construction as we add profile data. Please contact us with updates, new resisters, etc.Agosto, Victor
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David joined the US Army at the age of 18, in 2004. After serving a tour in Iraq, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, David went AWOL twice, rather than return to service. After he turned himself in to Army officials, he fully expected to go to military prison, but was given a discharge instead.
Army PFC who refused to return to Iraq as scheduled on September 25th, 2008 won a hardship discharge instead. On June 13th, after many tragedies in his family Jose told his sergeant that he was not “refusing” to deploy, but that he “could not” do so due to the circumstances in his family.
Chas Davis, 23, joined the military in October, 2002. He applied for Conscientious Objector status in 2004, while serving as a military policeman in Korea. He was honorably discharged in January 2005. He says “The things I learned and saw while I was in made me lose respect for the US government and the people who run it.” He now encourages and advises other soldiers to seek CO status.
After serving in Iraq, Army Reserve Military Policeman Aidan Delgado, 26, applied for Conscientious Objector status in April, 2003, because war was incompatible with his Buddhist beliefs. He served at Abu Gharaib prison and revealed some of the abuses there to superiors and the media. He was honorably discharged in April 2004 and has been speaking out against the war.
Joshua Despain, 23, refused to return to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne in 2004, saying “I saw the Iraqi people as no threat and couldn’t see why people were getting killed for this.” He joined Iraq Veterans Against the War and has participated in protests and educational programs. The Army quietly discharged Despain in 2005.
US Army, Miami, Florida native. Joined in 2003 served in Iraq as a combat engineer with the First Cavalry division 2004-2005. Facing re-deployment to Iraq he went AWOL in September 2007 from Germany. He is currently seeking refugee status in Canada. “Some people call us (deserters) cowards, but I don’t think you’re a coward if you stand up for yourself, if you refuse to kill innocent people.”
Dan Felushko, 26, enlisted in the Marines after 9/11. In January, 2003, his unit was ordered to Kuwait to prepare for the invasion of Iraq. Instead, he went to Canada, where he has dual citizenship. “I didn’t see a connection between the attack on America and Saddam Hussein,” he said. “If I died or killed somebody in Iraq, that would have been wrong.”
In February 2003, Marine Landing Specialist L/Cpl Stephen Funk, 25, became the first American soldier to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq. He applied for a Conscientious Objector discharge, saying, “”There is no way to justify war because you’re paying with human lives.” In September 2003, he was court-martialed and sentenced to six months imprisonment and reduction in rank to private. He is currently an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War in the SF Bay Area.
Army Sgt. who served two combat tours in Iraq was arrested after being AWOL more than a year ago to seek treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. Brad was arrested following a press conference at the Different Drummer Cafe in Watertown, NY near Fort Drum.
Army National Guard Sgt., Indiana native. Signed 8 year contract with National Guard in 2002. Deployed to Iraq and spent 5 months before being granted 2 weeks leave for stress relief. Rather than return, went underground and after 7 months, went to Toronto. Currently seeking refugee status in Canada. “I signed up to defend people and do humanitarian work filling sandbags if there was a hurricane. I should have been in New Orleans, not Iraq.”
US Army member, Andrew Gorby was discharged from the Army in May 2007 as a conscientious objector now works for the Center on Conscience and War, a counseling organization that works to defend the rights of conscientious objectors.
Iraq Veteran and stop-lossed Army Specialist Marc Hall, jailed for voicing opposition to the continuing policy of stop-loss which has prevented him from returning to civilian life. A veteran of Iraq and father, Spec. Hall is resisting stop loss in order to parent his child.
Lance Corporal Abdul Henderson, 32, joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1999 and served two months in Iraq in 2003, where he won a Marine Corps Achievement Medal. While still a Marine, he said he would refuse any further deployment to Iraq. “I’m standing up for what I believe in,” he says. He became an antiwar activist, speaking out on campuses and communities and in the Michael Moore film “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
Army Private Hess was discharged in 2007 after resisting Iraq deployment. After his conscientious objector discharge was denied, Derek threatened to kill himself if deployed—and he was serious. He ended up with a medical discharge. “My plans now include being active to bringing my brothers and sisters home—those that were not as lucky as I was. I want to be part of the anti-war movement, and I hope others will have the courage to resist and say NO to Iraq.”
20-year-old Army M1 Armor Crewman with1st Cavalry Division. Enlisted 2003, received an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector November 2005 after serving in Iraq October 2003 to August 2004. “I was punished with a field grade article 15 for anti-war statements I had made on a website… I informed my chain of command that I was a conscientious objector and refused to carry my weapons for the remainder of my time in Iraq.”
31-year-old Army Combat Engineer with the 1st Armored Division. Received an honorable discharge December 2005 after serving in Iraq September 2003 to August 2004. “My goal in life is now to work on a very local level to improve my community, raise awareness of the possibilities for peace in my larger community, and to improve the quality of life for those that suffer.”
Former US Army private, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After serving in Afghanistan, joined eight others seeking refugee status in Canada in 2004. Currently awaiting Canadian Supreme Court ruling. “Life is dynamic, and if you’re confronted with doing something wrong, it’s not right to abdicate your duty and obligation to be a moral being.”
Army National Guard Spc E-4, demoted after making “the conscious decision to go AWOL”. As an MP (military police), served two years in the Army Reserve and two years in the Colorado National Gurad. “I began my application for conscientious objection (1-0) Honorable Discharge for moral and ethical reasons. Although I have only two years remaining on my contract I cannot train and support a nation that condones illegal war.” Currently active with Iraq Veterans Against the War in Denver.
US Army Private. Enlisted at 17 but traveled to Canada to resist Iraq deployment in 2004 after discharge requests were refused. Currently awaiting Canadian Supreme Court ruling regarding refugee status. “I feel that if a soldier is given an order that he knows to not only be illegal, but immoral as well, then it his responsibility to refuse that order.”
Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson was arrested when she failed to show up for her plane to Afghanistan. Having no one to care for her infant son, she was attempting to remedy the situation, when the Army arrested her and placed her son, Kamani into county foster care.
23-year-old Army Systems Operator with the 22nd Signal Brigade received an honorable conscientious objector discharge after serving from June 2004 to April 2006. “Do your own thinking. Don’t let the military think for you. If your conscience weighs heavy with what you have done or might be asked to do, then maybe it is time to stand up and declare what you really think.”
United States Army Specialist, Blake Ivey is currently stationed in Fort Gordon, Ga., is publicly refusing to deploy to Afghanistan. The 21-year-old soldier filed for conscientious objector status in July but was ordered to deploy while his application was being processed. He is determined not to go..
PFC in the U.S. Army, age 25. Ryan joined the Army in May of 2005, looking towards a college education. After deploying to South Korea as a part of the 35th Signal Brigade, Ryan returned to the U.S. where in 2007, Ryan determined for himself that he could not in good conscience participate in war…
In September 2007, 19-year-old Army Spc Bethany “Skyler” James left Fort Campbell near Louisville, Kentucky, to seek refuge in Canada after hearing horror stories from fellow soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. “I just wanted to let everybody know, that if you are in the military and you’ve been thinking, why am I putting up with this? You don’t have to put up with it.” An “out” lesbian, Skyler was ridiculed daily by the other soldiers and even received hate letters.
Specialist Katherine Jashinski, 24, enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 19. Katherine applied for conscientious objector status in 2004. The Army denied her claim and ordered her to weapons training. In November 2005, she refused, saying “I will never take another person’s life.” In May 2006, she pled guilty to refusal to obey an order and was sentenced to 4 months jail and a bad conduct discharge. She was released and discharged in July 2006.
Army intelligence analyst, Eric Jasinski went AWOL after returning from a tour in Iraq and being stop-lossed; though prior to being stop lossed, he was referred to civilian doctors for help with his PTSD – a medical condition that the Army medical structure was ill-prepared to deal with.
Army PFC from Visalia, California, enlisted in 2003. Left for Canada in June 2005 to resist deployment to Iraq after seeing fellow soldiers returning from Iraq with PTSD and learning of atrocities committed by troops. “I started talking to soldiers that had already gone over there and come back, infantry men and tank drivers and stuff like that, and the stories that they were giving me were just – they were horrifying.”
US Army Pvt. Went AWOL Sept. 28, 2006 , the day prior to graduating basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to resist Iraq deployment. “I’m not anti-war one hundred percent because some wars are worth fighting for, but this war is not worth fighting for.”
Oklahoma native enlisted in the Army and was sent to Iraq shortly after the 2003 invasion. While home on leave, traveled to Canada instead of returning to Iraq. Authored “The Deserter’s Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq” published by Atlantic Monthly Press, January 2007.
Army National Guard Specialist Ghanim Khalil, 30, of Staten Island, N.Y., announced in February, 2003 that he would refuse deployment to Iraq as part of any unilateral military invasion. “I believe that this war is for material gain…It is illegal under international law.” He was allowed to separate from the Guard in 2005 and remains active in the antiwar movement.
Joined the US Marine Corps in 2004. Military police PFC traveled to Canada to resist Iraq deployment October 2005. Currently awaiting Canadian Supreme Court ruling on refugee status. “I kept trying to reassure myself that I could be a warrior. But I couldn’t let go of the fact that the intent was taking the life of a living, breathing, human being.”
A Marine Combat Engineer, Joel joined the 7th Day Adventist Church in 2002. Although willing to go to Iraq, he refused to carry a gun, saying it was against his religious beliefs. He was court-martialed in December 2004, sentenced to seven months in the brig, and reduced in rank to Private. In February 2006, the U.S. Naval Clemency and Parole Board upgraded his discharge to a “general” classification.
U.S. Airforce, Texas native. Served in Afghanistan 2003. Currently seeking refuge in Canada.
23-year-old Army Combat Engineer Spc. with the 1st Armored Division. Discharged December 2005 after serving in Iraq from August 2003 to July 2004. Military awards included a Purple Heart. “In war, we as men are asked to do things to other men that should never be asked, things that people just should not do to other people. It was there in Karbala I witnessed the means to the end.”
Army Specialist Blake Lemoine, 25, served one year in Iraq. In Germany in 2004, he applied for Conscientious Objector status because “being in the U.S. Army at this day and time contradicts my religious beliefs.” In March, 2005, a military court convicted him of “refusing to perform duties.” He was sentenced to seven months confinement, reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge. He was released in September 2005.
Marine Benjamin “Benji” Lewis served two tours in Iraq and was honorably discharged in 2007. Recently, he received notification that he was a candidate to be recalled to active duty. Last week at a Winter Soldier event in Portland, Oregon, Lewis publicly announced his intention to refuse reactivation from the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
While stationed at Fort Knox, Army resister Robin Long, 23 received orders to Iraq in March 2005. He went to Canada in June 2005, “because I believe the [Iraq] war is illegal.” He has been fighting for refugee status since, while the government has tried to deport him. The Canadian Peace Alliance, the War Resisters Support Campaign, and the New Democratic Party have supported Robin.
21-year-old Army soldier from Oklahoma attached to the 101st Airborne Division. “I’m a war resister or deserter depending on your perspective. I engage the government and the military via my writings and actions to end the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I also engage to get people more active in government affairs and restore democracy to the United States. My anti-war involvement is but one facet of larger spectrum of conflict and social issues.”
Former Staff Sergeant from North Carolina, 12-year Marine veteran, served in Iraq in 2003. He witnessed——and in some cases participated in—the killing of innocent civilians. The Iraqis “were just doing their normal routines”, he says, “and they were getting frickin’ blasted for it.” He began to speak out to his superiors and was eventually diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He won an honorable discharge in December 2003.
Private Brad McCall, 20, joined the military at 19 “hoping to make enough money to get a college education.” He moved to Canada in September 2007 rather than “commit war crimes in Iraq.” “I consider Iraq to be this generation’s Vietnam,” he says. “There are barbaric acts committed on a daily basis over there.” He has applied for refugee status in Canada and is living with supporters in Vancouver..jpg "Image")
Sergeant Phil McDowell joined the Army in 2001. He served in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005. A month and a half after being discharged in June 2006 he was ordered to return for deployment to Iraq under the stop-loss program. He left for Canada in October of 2006. He and his partner now live in Toronto. “During my tour I realized that the war was unjust and illegal and the reasons for the invasion were lies.”
In October 2006, Army Specialist Melanie McPherson went AWOL rather than deploy to Iraq as a Military Policeman, a job for which she had not been trained. In February 2007 she was convicted of desertion, sentenced to 3 months in prison, reduced in rank and given a bad conduct discharge. “I love my country. I was hoping to use my God-given talent, not just be a bullet catcher.”
Florida National Guard Sergeant, 32, served 6 months in Iraq in 2003. He became the first US combat veteran to publicly refuse to redeploy to Iraq. In Iraq, Mejia witnessed detainees being tortured and abused by US troops under the direction of American civilian contract employees. He later served 9 months in prison for desertion and was released in February 2005. In August 2007 he was elected Chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
24-year-old Marine Reservist from Orlando, Florida currently seeking a conscientious objector discharge, and facing Iraq deployment. “After seeing what war really brings — innocent women and children that are killed along the way — I don’t think it’s ever worth it
I cannot justify in my own mind any killing of a human being, I do not see it fit to decide whether or not a person should die.”
In April 2007 Army Specialist Linjamin Mull left Fort Huston and traveled to Toronto in order to resist deploying to Iraq. “It would be a big difference if my country was attacked,” he said. “Then you have a purpose. (Iraq) is a form of American imperialism.” Mull, 31 joined the Army in 2005 out of financial need. He has applied for refugee status in Canada.
US Army Veteran and current president of the IVAW branch in Houston, Tx, Brandon Neely refused IRR recall. Upon receiving his recall orders Brandon reports, “I looked at my dad and told him right there I’m not going back…. I never thought in a million years that the government and the President would send troops into harms way for nothing.
Army medic applied for and was granted a conscientious objector discharge following 2003 Afghanistan deployment.
In November 2004 Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Pablo Paredes, then 23, refused to board a troop ship headed for the Persian Gulf. “I refuse to go,” he told officers. “”I feel in my mind and heart that this war is illegal and immoral.” In May 2005 he was court-martialed and sentenced to 3 months hard labor. He was denied conscientious objector status. Since being discharged he has become a well-known anti-war activist and is currently a staff member on the GI Rights Hotline.
25-year-old Army Sergeant attached to the 64th Medical Detachment as a Human Resource Specialist. Received an honorable discharge after serving from March 2000 to April 2005. “I will no longer put aside my conscious. I take solace in the fact that I refuse to take part in War. Many people have stood up to a lot more.”
Iowa National Guardsman “stop-lossed” for Iraq deployment November 2005. “My only options were to go to Iraq and take part in an immoral war, or to go on the run and risk jail. But in the end I resolved that to desert was the best thing I could do.” Tim currently studies at the University in Ontario, Canada.
Afghanistan and Iraq Wars vet turned war resister/video producer arrested July 2007 in Oneonta, New York for allegedly “deserting the Army.” Korey played a high-profile role in the “9-11 truth movement” since leaving the Army in June 2005. He co-produced the movie Loose Change, the central premise of which is that “the United States Government was, at the very least, criminally negligent in allowing the attacks of September 11th, 2001 to occur.”
A mentally ill US soldier, Daniel Sandante, fled to Canada and was deported by Canadian authorities after attempting suicide; the Iraq war veteran and sufferer of severe PTSD was then sentenced to 8 months in the stockade at the end of a brief court-martial at Ft. Carson, Colorado on Monday, November 17, 2008. Upon being released from Army custody Daniel has been working with peace and justice groups in Oklahoma.
Navy cryptologist resisted Iraq deployment by taking a bus to Toronto, Canada. “I don’t think I did anything wrong by turning down an illegal order.”
US Army Infantry, Iraq Veteran enlisted in 2002, at the age of 17. Attended basic training at Fort Benning, in Georgia – belonged to the 1st BN, 509th Airborne Infantry, a non-deployable unit, and prior to the beginnings of the occupation in Iraq. William deployed to Iraq in 2004 – with his entire battalion.
U.S. Army Specialist André Shepherd, who went AWOL after serving in Iraq, has applied for asylum in Germany. Shepherd refused military service because he is morally opposed to the Iraq War. “It is a sickening feeling to realize that I took part in what was basically a daily slaughter of a proud people,” said Shepherd at a press.
24 year old PFC and combat engineer Kyle Snyder deserted in 2005 while on mid-tour leave from Iraq, after witnessing war crimes by American soldiers.
Army Specialist Dusting Stevens was told to go home and the army didn’t want him anymore. Years later, at a routine traffic stop, he was informed he was AWOL and that he was under arrest. While waiting in a legal limbo, with Echo Platoon, of the 82nd Replacement Company Spec. Stevens began to actively seek change in the legal running of Echo Platoon.
23-year-old Army SPC completed a tour in Iraq during which she was continually sexually harassed and assaulted by three men in her command. Suffering from PTSD, she went AWOL in January 2006 to resist redeploying with the same unit. She was apprehended and imprisoned briefly in January 2007. She remains on active duty until 2009 and has been active in anti-war and anti-rape protests. Her mother Sara Rich says, “The Army has turned her into a fierce warrior for peace and justice.”
19-year-old Marine private from Tuba City, Arizona discharged as a conscientious objector January 2007. Ronnie, a Navajo, realized that his newfound calling as a medicine man made it impossible to deploy to Iraq without spiritually harming himself and his community. “I’m really relieved my voice has been heard. There was a lot of grief and heartache before I was heard.”
After two tours in Afghanistan and an honorable discharge, 27 year old Army Specialist Chris Teske was called back to train machine gunners in Iraq. He refused, citing “the racism against the Muslim culture in the army there.” He and his wife, Stephanie went to Canada September 2006 and have applied for protected refugee status.
Air Force officer, JAG lawyer and Arabic Linguist, served in Northern Iraq September 2003. “During my deployment and after I got back I read all I could about teh war and how the reason given for it all tunred to be false, and concluded that I could never go back to Iraq voluntarily…. I resigned my commission in protest of the war.” Harvey was honorably discharged in March 2005.
Airman granted conscientious objector status and given an honorable discharge from the Air Force on June 10th, 2008 – after an eight month process, in which he was aided by Courage to Resist. Michael enlisted in the Air Force as a junior in high school, in 2005. As early as Basic Training and his MOS tech school training…
Private Marc Train, age 20, left Fort Stewart, Georgia in March, 2007, rather than go to Iraq because “The reasons we’re [in Iraq] are obviously lies.” After 114 days AWOL, he returned to base and was on restriction and extra duty prior to being given a General Discharge. He has demonstrated with Iraq Veterans Against the War, has spoken against military recruiting in high schools, and blogs on the IVAW site.
Staff Sgt. Jose Vasquez served fourteen years in the Army and Army Reserve. In January 2005, he applied for conscientious objector status requesting immediate discharge from the military, which was approved. He was honorably discharged in May 2007. Jose is an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) serving as Co-chair of the Board and President of the New York City chapter. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the City University of New York.
Hart Viges joined the Army because of 9-11. Along with the 82nd Airborne Division 1/325 HHC Battalion Mortars he took part of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Upon returning in January 2004 He filed for Conscientious Objector based on the Teachings of Jesus. December 2004 Hart was Honorably Discharged.
US Army First Lieutenant, was the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq June 2006 while stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. As a thousand rallied in his support during a February 2007 court martial a mistrial was declared. Another court martial in currently scheduled for October 2007, but resolution of double jeopardy issues are still forth coming from appeals courts.
29-year-old Army Spc. Rodney Watson from Kansas City, Mo. served 12-months in Iraq. He has refused to return and is currently seeking refuge near Vancouver, Canada. “I’d rather do my time in jail than be a party to the racism I saw in Iraq. As an African-American, I grew up with racism. But in Iraq, I saw the same kind of abuse and mistreatment, only this was U.S. enlisted soldiers and American contractors, like security forces, abusing Iraqis.”
Seven-year Army veteran and Texas Army National Guardsman stop-lossed for Iraq deployment in November 2005. Went AWOL to resist deployment and has been publicly speaking out against the war since. “The war is unethical and illegal U.S. aggression,” he says. “It’s all about oil and profits.”
24-year-old Army Information Systems Operator joined up June 2004. Served in Iraq December 2005 to April 2006. Received an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector. “The military is asking me to ignore my conscience and continue the mission. I cannot violate my conscience, lest I sin against God.”
“Knowing the war to be unjust and I would not have been able to function fully to the same capacity as I have done the past 19 years of my career as a soldier. It was therefore not an easy decision, nor one taken lightly to refuse to go to Iraq.” Imprisoned for 14 months after refusing to deploy to Iraq in June 2004.
In May, 2008 U.S. Army combat vehicle driver and conscientious objector, Robert Weiss was sentenced to 7 months brig time for refusing to deploy to Iraq. When asked why he deserted and refused deployment, Weiss replied “I had no intention of boarding the flight, your honor,” he said to Judge Peter Master.
Served in the Arabian Sea 2005-2006. 17-year-veteran of the US military. Arrived in Canada in February 2007 and is currently seeking refuge in opposition to the Iraq War. “I came North February of last year…I love this place more every day. The decision pained me a lot then, it doesn’t anymore….I want to stay here.”
After returning from a year-long Iraq deployment, filed for a conscientious objector discharge March 2004. Mark went AWOL to resist redeployment January 2005. A year and half later, he held a press conference near Crawford, Texas before returning to the Army. He was released after seven months in the brig August 2007.
Applied in June 2004 for a conscientious objector discharge in June 2004 but was denied. After nearly three years of appeals, Robert was ordered discharged as a conscientious objector in April 2007 by a federal court judge.
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-Edward Asner, actor & activist
