Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia served in Iraq from March - October, 2003. He returned home in October, 2003 and refused to return to Iraq to fight in an illegal and immoral war. He turned himself in to the U.S. military in March, 2004 along with a 55-page Conscientious Objector application. He was charged with desertion, and convicted in May, 2004. He is now serving a one-year prison term at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.He also received a Bad Conduct discharge and was reduced in rank to 'private.' I am sure that conscientious objector status is very difficult for active-duty soldiers to get--how can one suddenly claim that one is opposed to participation in war after being in the armed forces for a long time? Mejia has served about 8 years in the Army and Army Reserve. Surely he knew what he was getting into, right? He must have had a profound change of heart while serving in Iraq. But it appears that he went AWOL from October 2003 to March 2004. That can't be good for his case. The hearing to consider his Conscientious Objector application will be held at Fort Sill while the vigil goes on outside:
Testifying at this hearing will be Bishop Thomas Gumbleton from the Archdiocese of Detroit, Daniel Ellsberg, Lewis Randa (Conscientious Objector from the Vietnam Era; founder of the Peace Abbey in Massachusetts); Fernando Suarez del Solar (MFSO member and father of one of the first Marines to be killed in Iraq); and Nancy Lessin, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out.I am not very optimistic about his chances of getting Conscientious Objector status. Even members of the historic peace churches (Mennonite and Quaker) have to have a documented record of consistent opposition to participation in the armed forces. A wishy-washy position that allows individual soldiers to decide which wars to participate in would (and should) fail to meet the test of consistency. I support his decision, if it is a consistent one. You can read more about Camilo's case in these posts by Oklahoman, Green Party member, peace activist and Mennonite J. M. Branum: here and here.
I will be in Lawton tomorrow, but work will prevent me from staying too long at the vigil. We'll see!
Father, let me dedicate All this year to you
In whatever earthly state You will have me be
Not from sorrow, pain, or care Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer: Glorify Your name.
--from New Year's Hymn by Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864 (alt.)
In whatever earthly state You will have me be
Not from sorrow, pain, or care Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer: Glorify Your name.
--from New Year's Hymn by Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864 (alt.)
