Thursday, April 28, 2005

Kevin Benderman update

The Army has denied Sgt. Kevin Benderman's request for a discharge as a conscientious objector.

The 3rd Infantry Division non-commissioned officer received word late Wednesday of the Army's decision, his wife Monica said Thursday.

The Army chain of command said it doubted Benderman's sincerity and believed the Fort Stewart-based soldier was simply trying to get out of going back to Iraq, where he had been deployed in 2003.

Monica Benderman said she found the speed of the denial -- not so much the decision itself -- surprising.
  Savannah Now article
Well, I find the decision itself disgusting, but not surprising, either. They know they have to make an example of Sgt. Benderman, or they'll be flooded with soldiers applying for a CO to get out of the army.
The sergeant was meeting with his counsel Thursday to discuss options, Monica Benderman said.

The sergeant still faces a May 12 court-martial on charges that he missed his unit's January deployment and deserted.
Uh-huh, which as I understand it, his superior officer told him to do - not desert, but stay behind, since he was filing for CO status so near the deployment date.

Please visit the Bendermans' site (always in my sidebar).

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