Fort Bragg soldier flees to Canada [Traitor alert!]

Independent Weekly ^ | February 11, 2004 | Patrick O'Neill

[Carolinamom]

He was a very good soldier. But he doesn't want to kill.

Does not compute.

[af_vet_1981]

Looks like Kerry lost another vote...

ROFL

[BlueLancer]

"My question was could you ever concieve of a time where such actions would be appropriate on the part of the soldier as being more patriotic than fighting an "evil" war (again - not saying that is the case here)."

I would have to say that I could only agree if the soldier stood on the courage of his convictions and faced the retribution and punishment that was to follow. Running away doesn't ever show courage. If he had refused to get on the plane, if he had deployed but then .. as another poster suggested .. refuse to carry a weapon, if he had gotten his elected representatives involved, the Army may have decided he wasn't worth the effort, hammered him with a couple of non-judicial punishment records, and given him a general discharge for unfitness to perform military duties.

I am a military retiree and a DA civilian ... I collect all my livelihood from Uncle Sam. Should a second "Civil War" erupt for one reason or another I'm going to have to choose sides. But I will do so with my eyes wide open, knowing what might happen should I decide that my beliefs require me to bite the hand that feeds me.

[Poohbah]

I guess my question was, is it EVER concieveable that a political motivation is TOO much to ask a soldier to die?

If that possibility even crosses your mind at any point prior to enlisting, DO NOT ENLIST.

Political decisions are NOT in the soldier's purview.

[My back yard]

"That's one of the reasons that got me thinking that I was in the wrong place. If you think logically, that makes sense. If you can't kill an animal, how can you kill a human?"

Well, hey? Is it still an all volunteer army? Yeah, I thought so.

[My back yard]

Jeremy Hinzman enlisted to make a difference, then learned what being a soldier is really all about

No, he sold his soul for the college money, as he said.

This guys needed a job. and got one with the Armed Forces. Let him stay in Canada.

[retrokitten]

Does not compute.

For me either.

[realpatriot71]

I would have to say that I could only agree if the soldier stood on the courage of his convictions and faced the retribution and punishment that was to follow. Running away doesn't ever show courage. If he had refused to get on the plane, if he had deployed but then .. as another poster suggested .. refuse to carry a weapon, if he had gotten his elected representatives involved, the Army may have decided he wasn't worth the effort, hammered him with a couple of non-judicial punishment records, and given him a general discharge for unfitness to perform military duties.

Good points.

[My back yard]

"War is politics by other means."

Yes, that is true. But the soldier should never be involved in the politics of the battle. Otherwise, he risks meeting at the front line with an unloaded gun.

[realpatriot71]

If that possibility even crosses your mind at any point prior to enlisting, DO NOT ENLIST. Political decisions are NOT in the soldier's purview.

I suppose all things being equal a man could enlist, and, while in service, the country could change philosophically. It's a possibility. I do not know what a soldier is to do then. However, bluelancer made some good points. This guy might have a moral legal to stand on if he'd stayed to face the music of his decision instead of running away.

[Poohbah]

Exactly my point: the decision to go to war--or to not go to war--is a political one, not a military one.

[Poohbah]

I suppose all things being equal a man could enlist, and, while in service, the country could change philosophically. It's a possibility. I do not know what a soldier is to do then.

We used to say that "USMC" stood for "U Signed the Motherf***ing Contract."

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Thought this article would be a sharp contrast to your son, ohio.

Thank you to Eric for his devotion to our great country and the freedom we hold dear but too often take for granted.

[Jackie-O]

[Dan from Michigan]

I have no problem with him going to Canada.

I just hope he STAYS there.

[yoe]

They don't deserve the appellation of American! Rescind their citizenships...if they won't fight for freedom they aren't worthy of being a citizens of this country. Freedom isn't free...anywhere or anytime; it takes brave people to maintain it.

[dixie sass]

He's a pacifist? I thought that pacifists didn't join the military, that it was against their belief system?

[Gothmog]

Funny/Sad story. When I was in college a friend of mine wanted to enroll in the ROTC course just to get the wilderness training, etc. He had no desire to become military.

When he got to the part on the form about drugs, he asked me whether he should answer honestly. I said no, because he was just going for some training, not enlisting, don't risk having a permanent file on record.

Well, he answered truthfully, and in the interview the subject was brought up -- ha had been very honest, ha ha ha.

The officer asked what the deal was and they had a brief discussion. The nub of it:

Officer: "This is quite a list."

Friend: "Um, yeah."

Officer: "Look, are you a pacifist?"

Friend: "No, absolutely not."

Officer: "OK, we just don't want pacifists."

Sounds like no one asked this guy if he was a pacifist.

[Cold Heat]

Hinzman, a native of Rapid City, S.D., admits he was not a typical soldier. A Catholic convert who also follows Buddhist teachings and enjoys the silent worship of Quakers, Hinzman was a military misfit from the get-go. His fellow soldiers were weirded out by his meditation regimen and his choice to not eat meat.

This guy is right out of the phych books.

What-a-mess!

[Dan from Michigan]

One of my dad's friends was an conscientious observor during Nam. He was a medic.