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War Resisters' International learned today that an US soldier requesting conscientious objector status was sent to the Iraqi war zone on 7 April 2003. Gabriel I. Johnson, 27 of Killeen, Texas, is assigned to the 104th Military Intelligence Btln (http://www.hood.army.mil/4id_104thmi/) of the 4th Infantry Division at Ft Hood, Texas. He was shipped to the Iraqi war zone early in the morning on 7 April, despite his request to be discharged as a conscientious objector.
US Army regulations provide that soldiers who claim to be conscientious objectors are to be assigned to military duties which "minimally conflict with their stated beliefs". They are to be kept in this status until the review of their claims is completed. Tod Ensign, Johnson's attorney, commented: "The Army is violating its own rules by sending Gabe into a war zone. His CO claim can't be judged fairly by commanders in the heat of battle." Rachel Pundsac, Johnson's sister, of Madison, Wisconsin reports that when her brother sought information from his commanders about filing a CO claim he was given inaccurate information and restricted to his barracks as a way of isolating him.
War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to Johnson's commander, asking him why Gabriel I. Johnson was sent to Iraq, in violation of US Army regulations, and demanding that he is immediately returned to the USA.
Lt Gen. Thomas F. Metz
Commanding General, III Corps
Ft Hood, TX 76544
USA
phone +1-254-287 7206
fax +1-254-287 8386
You can also send a protest email at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20030411a.html .
Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International