Soldier Who Refused Iraq Duty Faces Court-Martial

POSTED: 7:11 am EDT July 28, 2005

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Although Sgt. Kevin Benderman admits he turned his back on war, he said he never deserted the Army -- six months after refusing a return to Iraq.

Benderman skipped his Third Infantry Division unit's deployment flight in January while seeking a discharge as a conscientious objector. He says he could no longer be a part of the destruction he'd witnessed during his first tour in Iraq.

The Army mechanic faces a general court-martial Thursday at Georgia's Fort Stewart and up to five years in prison if convicted by a military judge.

Benderman said his stance on the war came after serving eight months in Iraq, where he witnessed dogs feeding on corpses in a mass grave (and who created those mass graves?) and a young girl suffering third-degree burns to her arm. His civilian lawyer said Army officials trumped up charges against Benderman to punish him for his anti-war stance.

I agree.  Unless there's a draft imposed, all these objectors ought to get BCDs.  That category discharge will hinder them significantly enough throughout life.  

Good enough for me!