Posted on 01/21/2005 3:13:54 PM PST by Former Military Chick
January 20, 2005 - "I am ashamed to be associated with this mess, and I certainly did not join the Army to kill women, children and old men. I just don't see how these innocent people could be a threat to the Constitution of the United States. An American soldier should not be ashamed of what they do," said Sgt. Kevin Benderman of the U.S. Army.
Benderman has said that he will refuse to deploy to Iraq as ordered. A 40-year old veteran who has received many awards, including four Good Conduct Medals, Benderman was deployed in Iraq from March to September of 2003. During that time, he says, "elements of my unit were instructed by a captain to fire on children throwing rocks at us."
He said that he realized that "the people that we are fighting now are for the most part people like you and me, people that are defending themselves against a superior military force and fighting to keep that which is rightfully theirs." He has also said the Iraqi people have the right to choose their own form of government, "just like we did in America after the revolution."
Benderman, who first entered the Army in 1987, has applied for a conscientious objector discharge. A decision on his application is still pending.
Benderman is not alone in his objection to the war. Twenty-two soldiers in his unit have refused to deploy to Iraq. Seventeen have gone AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave). Two have attempted suicide.
Discontent and low morale are becoming so widespread throughout the armed forces, especially the reserves, that even top officers are getting worried. In a recent memo, Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly criticized repeated "stop loss" orders, decisions extending reservists' tours in war zones, and calling reservists to active duty after they had returned to civilian life.
Helmly wrote that these policies have pushed the Army Reserve to the point that it is "in grave danger of being unable to meet other operational requirements" and is "rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force."
Meanwhile, soldiers in Iraq face daily attacks from a popular resistance that now numbers more than 200,000, according to the head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service. U.S. deaths in combat are approaching 1,400. As many as one in five returning troops suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The soldiers want to come home, and the Iraqi people clearly want them to leave. In a letter from Kevin Benderman and Monica Benderman to President George W. Bush, they outlined the only way to end the violence in Iraq: "Until America leaves Iraq to the Iraqis, and brings its soldiers home, freedom cannot begin to materialize for the Iraqi people."
January 20, 2005 - "I am ashamed to be associated with this mess, and I certainly did not join the Army to kill women, children and old men. I just don't see how these innocent people could be a threat to the Constitution of the United States. An American soldier should not be ashamed of what they do," said Sgt. Kevin Benderman of the U.S. Army.
Benderman has said that he will refuse to deploy to Iraq as ordered. A 40-year old veteran who has received many awards, including four Good Conduct Medals, Benderman was deployed in Iraq from March to September of 2003. During that time, he says, "elements of my unit were instructed by a captain to fire on children throwing rocks at us."
He said that he realized that "the people that we are fighting now are for the most part people like you and me, people that are defending themselves against a superior military force and fighting to keep that which is rightfully theirs." He has also said the Iraqi people have the right to choose their own form of government, "just like we did in America after the revolution."
Benderman, who first entered the Army in 1987, has applied for a conscientious objector discharge. A decision on his application is still pending.
Benderman is not alone in his objection to the war. Twenty-two soldiers in his unit have refused to deploy to Iraq. Seventeen have gone AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave). Two have attempted suicide.
Discontent and low morale are becoming so widespread throughout the armed forces, especially the reserves, that even top officers are getting worried. In a recent memo, Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly criticized repeated "stop loss" orders, decisions extending reservists' tours in war zones, and calling reservists to active duty after they had returned to civilian life.
Helmly wrote that these policies have pushed the Army Reserve to the point that it is "in grave danger of being unable to meet other operational requirements" and is "rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force."
Meanwhile, soldiers in Iraq face daily attacks from a popular resistance that now numbers more than 200,000, according to the head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service. U.S. deaths in combat are approaching 1,400. As many as one in five returning troops suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The soldiers want to come home, and the Iraqi people clearly want them to leave. In a letter from Kevin Benderman and Monica Benderman to President George W. Bush, they outlined the only way to end the violence in Iraq: "Until America leaves Iraq to the Iraqis, and brings its soldiers home, freedom cannot begin to materialize for the Iraqi people."
:: Article nr. 9035 sent on 21-jan-2005 18:24 ECT
:: The address of this page is : www.uruknet.info?p=9035
:: The original address of this article is : www.workers.org/ww/2005/reserves0120.php
Sgt. Kevin Benderman has filed for Conscientious Objector status, and did not deploy with his unit to Iraq. Now, he is officially charged with desertion.
In an exclusive interview, Sgt. Benderman told WSAV News 3 that he is prepared to handle the penalty for his actions.
"I knew this could happen, adverse reaction as a result of this, so I am prepared to face it and deal with it" Benderman said.
Court proceedings are expected to begin soon. Meanwhile, Benderman is on leave for a couple of weeks. He will use the time to seek legal council.
WSAV News will keep you updated.
I have to tell I am so angered by the actions of those who choose to return to fight with their brothers that I well I could spit.
It appears the Benderman is the poster child for the liberal left media. If you do a search you will what I mean. Many articles on the man.
I did take into consideration the source, but, there are several stateside papers picking up this article.
As I think about it, if they choose to run away from service then move them out of our country. Oh this really bothers me.
Benderman needs to face a firing squad, ASAP! I watched buddies buy it on my last tour in Iraq, and I REALLY RESENT THIS!!!
Put 'em in front of firing squads, and bill their families for the bullets.
A Good Conduct medal is given to all service members who haven't really screwed up and served 3 years. This guy is a coward and a leftist scumbag.
Yeah, a very decorated soldier - he's got all those Good Conduct Medals! Maybe I'm being glib, but 22 reservists refusing is pretty small. They don't want to serve? Fine, kick them out, but don't let them upgrade their Admin Discharge to an honorable one.
I have no sympathy for this guy. None.
Wrong, newbie.
Welcome to FR.
The longer the adminstration tries to maintain the current deployment levels with the current force levels the more of this you're going to see.
Benderman and his 22 buddies aren't reservist pukes, they're Regular Army. Danny Deever them!
We used to call it "three years of undetected crime."
Works for me.
If these are his convictions and he's not going to run away from the consequences, then a few years at Fort Leavenworth will give him time to figure out what kind of impact his dishonorable discharge is will have on the rest of his life.
Have you leftist scum no honor at all? Did you truly think you could plant such an idiotic statement and have anyone believe it came from a Freeper?
Yes, even I got a Good Conduct Medal when I was in the army. Basically it means you're still alive and breathing.
I paged Meekie.
Methinks we have an idiot troll trying to stir the pot.
bye bye now
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