Navy petty officer in San Diego refuses war duty

San Diego UNION ^ | December 6, 2004 | Chet Barfield

[Ramonan]

Acknowledging that he could face a court martial and possible imprisonment, a Navy petty officer yesterday said he will refuse to board his transport ship when it departs for the Persian Gulf this morning because he wants to make a public stand against the Iraq war.

"I'm going to throw my ID in the water and say that I'm no longer part of the military," I want to make a statement, and I want it to be heard."

Petty Officer Third Class Pablo Paredes, 23,a weapons-control technician from the Bronx, N.Y., said he joined the Navy in 2000 and has 20 months left on his six-year enlistment. Then, about two weeks ago, he was involuntarily transferred to the amphibious transport Bonhomme Richard, which ferries Marines to Iraq.

"I don't want to be a part of a ship that's taking 3,000 Marines over there, knowing a hundred or more of them won't come back,I can't sleep at night knowing that's what I do for a living."

Paredes said he wasn't sure he would be allowed onto his ship's pier at the 32nd Street Naval Station this morning because he made his feelings and intentions known in local TV interviews Saturday night. A base spokesman did not return a message seeking comment.

Paredes said his stance has nothing to do with fear for his personal safety.

Paredes said he discussed his plans with his wife of two years in New York, "and she supports my decision 1,000 percent," He said he thought of smoking marijuana or breaking his leg with a heavy metal rod to try to get a discharge but decided instead to go public with his protest. He said he hopes doing so might inspire other sailors, soldiers and Marines to refuse to take part in the war

[Ramonan]

Michael Moore has a call in to this guy. Also, a relative called a local Talk Show, Rick Roberts, and stated that this guy was either going to Mexico or to his home city, New York.

[AmishDude]

No problem. Send him the bill for the past 5 years of his training and salary.

[BrooklynGOP]

Can the Navy sue him to recover $ for his training?

[Piquaboy]

There is a space reserved for him at Portsmith or Leavenworth.

[mike182d]

What happened to the good 'ol days when you could just shoot 'em as an example to others?

[Chad Fairbanks]

"I know other people are feeling the same way I am, and I'm hoping more people will stand up," he said. "They can't throw us all in jail."

Wanna bet?

[mystery-ak]

He chose unwisely...he should have opted for the dope....now he may be making his *statement* from Leavenworth(at least I hope so).

[Centurion2000]

"I'm going to throw my ID in the water and say that I'm no longer part of the military," I want to make a statement, and I want it to be heard."

It will be heard .... in Leavenworth.

[Semper Paratus]

He found out ala "Private Benjamin" that this wasn't the Navy with the private staterooms with bath and shuffleboard on deck.

[ArrogantBustard]

IIRC, the Naval Tradition involves hanging them from a yardarm ... Modern warships don't really have an equivalent (wouldn't want to bust up the radio mast), but I've complete confidence that our ever imaginative and inventive Sailors and Marines can come up with a solution.

Just remember: rope is reusable.

[TheGunny]

20 Years hard labor!!!!

[stylin_geek]

Meanwhile, my oldest daughter has deployed twice to the Persian Gulf, once on a supply ship, the USS Detroit (read: floating bomb) and again on the USS George Washington. She didn't like it, but she did her duty. This guy can rot in Leavenworth, for all I care. If it were my son, I'd tell him to shut up and do his duty.

Boy, there must be a couple of proud parents.

[jscd3]

He said he thought of smoking marijuana or breaking his leg with a heavy metal rod to try to get a discharge but decided instead to go public with his protest.

Pin hole perferations of the ear drum used to be quite popular - apparently this guy is not up on the art of dodging military service.

I wonder what the heck this guy thought he would be doing for a living in the Freakin' Navy...

By the way - Message To the Wife (who supports him 1000%): Don't have any children. The first time he has to stay up with a sick child, he may discover that he just isn't cut out for Fatherhood either...

[stylin_geek]

Just stake him out in front of one of the radar arrays and slowly turn up the power.....

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

"I'm going to throw my ID in the water and say that I'm no longer part of the military," I want to make a statement, and I want it to be heard."

Future Presidential Democratic nominee???

[OldEagle]

When I went to Viet Nam in 1967, the drill was that if anyone refused to board, he was given a direct order by an officer. If he refused to obey the order, he was confined in the nearest military confinement facility, which happened to be the ship's brig.

Bon Voyage, Chief!

[Gamecock]

I think the Navy term is keelhaul

[Semper Paratus]

the Naval Tradition involves hanging them from a yardarm

Keelhauling under an aircraft carrier would work for me.

[bert]

Brig time, big time

[RichInOC]

Well, Pablo, perhaps you should have thought it through a little better before you decided to become a weapons-control tech, you numbnuts.

Enjoy Leavenworth.