KeJia Sista
Dec 15th, 2004, 05:08 PM
From: contact@traveling-soldier.org
To: contact@traveling-soldier.org
Subject: Defend the 343rd - sign their petition!
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 12:39:30 -0800
>
> ** Please foward far and wide **
>
> Defend the 343rd! Sign the petition in support of the 343rd Quartermaster
> soldiers who refused to follow dangerous orders at:
> www.campusantiwar.net
>
> **Army Gears Up to Punish Soldiers Who Refused Mission
>
> Statement in Support of the 343rd Soldiers Who Refused Iraq Mission
>
> Issued by the Campus Antiwar Network Coordinating Committee - 21 November
> 2004
>
> "The Army doesn't want the information to get out."
> -Beverly Dobbs, mother of Spec. Joseph Dobbs
>
> Well, we want the information to get out. We want everyone to know what the
> military is trying to do to these soldiers who stood up against unsafe orders.
> They were right to refuse, and no charges should be brought against
> them.
>
> The Army has recommended punishment for 24 members of the South Carolina-based
> 343rd quartermaster company who refused orders to drive a fuel convoy on a
> route hundreds of miles long without armor, air or ground support,
> and carrying
> helicopter fuel they believed to be contaminated, and therefore dangerous to
> other soldiers.
>
> The military is trying to keep the situation as quiet as possible. Without the
> soldier's families bravely speaking out on the situation, much less would be
> known about their fight.
>
> Families say the punishment being considered ranges from a letter
> of reprimand,
> fines, reduction in rank and pay, to possible court marshal and prison time.
>
> The military has tried to portray this as an isolated incident, and not part
> of a larger breakdown in discipline or a symptom of a widespread shortage of
> proper equipment for troops.
>
> They obviously fear the soldiers' refusal will find popular support among
> civilians, and more importantly, those in the military who can sympathize with
> the 343rd's plight--and who might consider following their example.
>
> The widespread discontent in the military can be seen in the numbers of
> reservists who are fighting calls to return to active duty.
>
> Over the last few months, the Army has called 4,000 former soldiers to report
> for active duty, and 1,800 have requested exemptions or delays. Of the 2,500
> that were supposed to report for duty by Nov. 7, 733 haven't shown up. Some
> soldiers have sued the military and won their cases.
>
> In Vietnam, widespread combat refusal paralyzed the military and
> was crucial to
> ending the war. That's why the military is trying hard to keep people from
> seeing the actions of the 343rd as a symbol of resistance.
>
> "I'll say it over and over, I do not understand why they're having
> to go through
> this", said Beverly Dobbs. "They joined because that was a dream for all of
> them. It can be ruined because they're not willing to listen to what they're
> trying to say. To my mind they saved lives by not going out."
>
> The military disillusioned many soldiers in Vietnam, and is doing the same
> today. We will see more incidents like the 343rd's. In fact, another, largely
> unreported, protest occurred when three National Guard members at Camp Shelby,
> refused to conduct training exercises after their anger at poor
> pay and conditions at the base spilled over.
>
> When these soldiers stand up and resist, we have to be ready to do the same.
>
> In solidarity,
> The Campus Antiwar Network
> www.campusantiwar.net
>
>
> For background visit:
>
> Platoon Refuses Orders in Iraq
> http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4187300p-3972909c.html
>
> Mississippi Guards Rebel, Refuse to Conduct Training
> http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=391
>
> Soldiers Flee Training Camp
> http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=410
>
> Strains Felt By Guard Unit on Eve Of War Duty,
> Entire National Guard Batallion Put on Lockdown
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31689-2004Sep18.html
>
> Army encounters resistance from 2,000 former soldiers ordered back to
> military work
> http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041116/ZNYT02/41116040
>
> "Fight to Survive," Antiwar Soldiers' Web Blog
> http://www.ftssoldier.blogspot.com/
Ke Jia
To: contact@traveling-soldier.org
Subject: Defend the 343rd - sign their petition!
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 12:39:30 -0800
>
> ** Please foward far and wide **
>
> Defend the 343rd! Sign the petition in support of the 343rd Quartermaster
> soldiers who refused to follow dangerous orders at:
> www.campusantiwar.net
>
> **Army Gears Up to Punish Soldiers Who Refused Mission
>
> Statement in Support of the 343rd Soldiers Who Refused Iraq Mission
>
> Issued by the Campus Antiwar Network Coordinating Committee - 21 November
> 2004
>
> "The Army doesn't want the information to get out."
> -Beverly Dobbs, mother of Spec. Joseph Dobbs
>
> Well, we want the information to get out. We want everyone to know what the
> military is trying to do to these soldiers who stood up against unsafe orders.
> They were right to refuse, and no charges should be brought against
> them.
>
> The Army has recommended punishment for 24 members of the South Carolina-based
> 343rd quartermaster company who refused orders to drive a fuel convoy on a
> route hundreds of miles long without armor, air or ground support,
> and carrying
> helicopter fuel they believed to be contaminated, and therefore dangerous to
> other soldiers.
>
> The military is trying to keep the situation as quiet as possible. Without the
> soldier's families bravely speaking out on the situation, much less would be
> known about their fight.
>
> Families say the punishment being considered ranges from a letter
> of reprimand,
> fines, reduction in rank and pay, to possible court marshal and prison time.
>
> The military has tried to portray this as an isolated incident, and not part
> of a larger breakdown in discipline or a symptom of a widespread shortage of
> proper equipment for troops.
>
> They obviously fear the soldiers' refusal will find popular support among
> civilians, and more importantly, those in the military who can sympathize with
> the 343rd's plight--and who might consider following their example.
>
> The widespread discontent in the military can be seen in the numbers of
> reservists who are fighting calls to return to active duty.
>
> Over the last few months, the Army has called 4,000 former soldiers to report
> for active duty, and 1,800 have requested exemptions or delays. Of the 2,500
> that were supposed to report for duty by Nov. 7, 733 haven't shown up. Some
> soldiers have sued the military and won their cases.
>
> In Vietnam, widespread combat refusal paralyzed the military and
> was crucial to
> ending the war. That's why the military is trying hard to keep people from
> seeing the actions of the 343rd as a symbol of resistance.
>
> "I'll say it over and over, I do not understand why they're having
> to go through
> this", said Beverly Dobbs. "They joined because that was a dream for all of
> them. It can be ruined because they're not willing to listen to what they're
> trying to say. To my mind they saved lives by not going out."
>
> The military disillusioned many soldiers in Vietnam, and is doing the same
> today. We will see more incidents like the 343rd's. In fact, another, largely
> unreported, protest occurred when three National Guard members at Camp Shelby,
> refused to conduct training exercises after their anger at poor
> pay and conditions at the base spilled over.
>
> When these soldiers stand up and resist, we have to be ready to do the same.
>
> In solidarity,
> The Campus Antiwar Network
> www.campusantiwar.net
>
>
> For background visit:
>
> Platoon Refuses Orders in Iraq
> http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4187300p-3972909c.html
>
> Mississippi Guards Rebel, Refuse to Conduct Training
> http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=391
>
> Soldiers Flee Training Camp
> http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=410
>
> Strains Felt By Guard Unit on Eve Of War Duty,
> Entire National Guard Batallion Put on Lockdown
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31689-2004Sep18.html
>
> Army encounters resistance from 2,000 former soldiers ordered back to
> military work
> http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041116/ZNYT02/41116040
>
> "Fight to Survive," Antiwar Soldiers' Web Blog
> http://www.ftssoldier.blogspot.com/
Ke Jia