I wonder how many COs actually ended up in the military. I know some became medics and corpsmen and at least one became a rifleman and was the recipient of the Medal of Honor. Sgt Alvin York.
York was convinced to change his mind, so he did not serve as a CO.
Our family has a WWII CO. He served as a medic, and received 3 medals (I think they’re bronze stars) for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. He usually won’t talk about it. But my husband helped him go through his things to move into assisted living, and saw the paperwork and the medals.
His first two sons did not serve in VN, they refused. The oldest as a religious CO turned 18 in 1967 and was drafted and did not go.
My second oldest brother refused to serve, period. When he was drafted, he first got the 4 year deferment from going to college, then he just refused to join in around 1970.
When they finally caught up to him, the war was essentially over and he was ordered to serve 300 or so hours of community service for punishment.
Needless to say my Dad was devastated by their actions, never really talked about it, but was so confused by the unamerican actions and they were from his own blood, it must have been so hard for him.
Add Desmond Doss as a “conscientious objectors" hero.
Sgt. York was a famous conscientious objector because of what he did with his gun.
Desmond Doss was a famous conscientious objector because of what he did without a gun. A story that will amaze most people.
Quite true. The concept of COs has a long history in this country. It is the same basic idea behind some of the early laws regarding militia service. Those with strongly held objections were not required to muster with the militia. Naturally, there are cowards who take advantage, but there are also those who have strong moral convictions against the taking up of arms.
Sgt York was an excellent example. He was, I believe, a Quaker, who struggled mightily with his conscience about the morality of bearing arms against his fellow man. Eventually he worked through his moral objections in the face of the evil we stood against, and went on to be a recipient of our highest military honors. Obviously, it wasn't cowardice that had motivated his objections.
Would we, as a society, have been wrong to have forced him to bear arms? I believe so. It is unfortunate that the unscrupulous can also take advantage of the morality behind this, but I suspect it is unavoidable. There are also many things that one might do in service of the nation that does not require one to become an active combatant. In a just society you have to make allowances for this, and the same should go for the other circumstances enumerated by the author of the article.
Forcing a man to act against his own morality is unjust and immoral.