Conscientious objectors in military want out (Barf Alert)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Sunday, October 14, 2001 | Joe Barfoli

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Not all were draftees. My ex volunteered for the Army in 1968 .... as a conscientious objector. He was a Quaker. He served in the 283rd Med Det as a Dustoff pilot.

There should be plenty of desk jobs available for her!!

[BlueLancer]

"How many of you have volunteered to particpate directly in this latest exciting and just venture?"

Does service in Vietnam, Panama, Haiti, three tours to Korea, and DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM qualify? If that meets with your approval, then I will weigh in with my opinion of this spoiled little girl.

She should be required to complete the terms of her service working as a medic in whatever field or base hospital her assistance is required. She should NOT be allowed to leave the service until her contract is fulfilled. She should NOT be allowed to reenlist. If her performance of duties are substandard, she should receive non-juidicial punishment. If that level of performance continues, she should be court-martialed.

If she has the courage of her convictions, she should immediately refuse to wear her uniform or comply with the orders of her superiors. She can then be court-martialed and will not have to continue to be put through such "stress".

[Celtic Conservative]

listen up, bonehead, a healthy chunk of the posters on this site ARE veterans, and because of that, they are understandably upset about these whiny weenies who call themselves CO's. It's somewhat akin to training to be a car mechanic, and then wanting to quit when you find out you will get your hands dirty. Sorry, comes with the job. And to believe that these people didn't understand the ramifications of joining the "armed forces" labels them as idiots, liars or ,IMO both.This thread isn't about , as you believe "old men sending young men to die" as the old saw goes. It's about the citizens of our country asking its soldiers to live up to their commitments,as spelled out in black and white in their oath of service. Plain and simple.And if you're wondering, no I am not a veteran, but as I went into law enforcement, I put my butt on the line for the people of my state and country on a regular basis. I consider it a cheap payback for the country that has given me everything: life , freedom and happiness. If these lazy schmucks get away with anything less than a DD and 2 years federal time, would be a dishonor to those who willingly fought and died in our nations conflicts.

Here endeth the rant,

CC

[leadpenny]

Oh, x42 has shame. Everything he has ever done shows me that he has shame. It is just covered by his psychopathic, narcissistic personality. Agreed, most people would exhibit more obvious signs of remorse under similar circumstances. Most wouldn't even be able to show their face in public again, had they done the things he has done. Bill Clinton has shame; we're just never, ever going to hear him admit it.

[copycat]

I think we're all questioning why she joined the military two years ago if she DIDN'T KNOW IT MIGHT INVOLVE A MILITARY ACTION!!!!

She apparently thought she would be delivering "meals on wheels" to Somalia and elsewhere. Wonder how she got that impression?

[Wm Bach]

I remember one guy in our AFROTC class who freaked out when we had to sign our agreement to defend the nation and kill people in the process. I don't know what he thought the function of the Air Force was, but he must have believed it was some kind of club med with uniforms and free stuff.

He refused to sign and got booted. Oh well...

[JCG]

Then the Air Force should enable her. She should be given a General Court Martial, a dishonorable discharge and at least five years at hard labor.

And she should be required to pay back the money her training cost the taxpayers.

 America's Fifth Column ... watch JIHAD! In America -- here

[LadyDoc]

"I know one thing: I can't kill. I just can't," said the soft-spoken nurse's assistant. Raised as a Quaker with a marrow-deep devotion to nonviolence, he would choose his loyalty to his faith over his country. He would be a conscientious objector.

Gee, I wasn't aware that the medical sections killed people. Indeed, you don't even have to carry a gun. That's why some pacifict sects allow their people to serve in the medical corps.

Of course, in Nam, the first thing they showed the nurses is how to shoot, since the enemy wasn't above killing wounded and nurses. And of course, (as a famous Bill Cosby comedy routine recalls) some enemy soldiers in the past delighted in shooting at the red cross at unarmed medics.

Life's a bitch, ain't it? You don't have to kill, but you can be killed....Hmm maybe that's what he objects to....

[GailA]

Give her the bill for her training as they boot her out the door.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Throughout US history many Quakers have fought. One of Gen. Washington's aide de camps was a quaker, and others fought in the civil war. During WWII I believe that many served as corpsmen, or volunteered for a study on the effects of starvation. Lot's of COs have understood that a country that can accomodate their beliefs is worth serving in a manner they can, no matter how unpleasant or dangerous. The morons in this article are more of the "why do I have to do anything I don't want?" types.

[Cold Heat]

This is a sorry subject for me. This type of jerk should have been eliminated in a volunteer force. In 69-72 when I was serving these COs caused all kinds of problems. Why did the services not learn their lesson? My guess is that a loyalty test is somehow not politically correct. There are only so many mess halls that you can assign them to.

[antidisestablishment]

Aw, you guys are so cold hearted! You need more sensitivity training. This poor, ingnorant and naive waif was decieved by her big bad recruiter. I am sure she really had no idea that the AF is supposed to bomb people! </sarcasm>

The brig is too good for these cowards — form a whole unit of them and send them to the front. The ones who live won't be worrying about their CO status. (Seems there was some guy in WWI who was denied his CO status and did pretty darn well. York, I believe the name was.)

[NYCVirago]

Quakers have served in the military as medics. A number have been decorated for valor under fire in WW2 and Vietnam. Being unwilling to touch a gun does not make one a chicken.

Thanks for writing this. And the Quaker mentioned in the article was concerned about registering for the draft, and wanted to file as a conscientious objector. There is a huge difference between this person having objections from the beginning as to combat service, and those who volunteered for the military, took the government's money, then changed their mind as soon as they faced danger.