San Jose Marine Reservist Refuses To Serve, Says He's Conscientious Objector

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/5533453.htm

Posted on Tue, Apr. 01, 2003

Absent Marine reservist surrenders to military authorities

By Brandon Bailey
Mercury News
Declaring that he believes all wars are immoral, a 20-year-old Marine Corps reservist surrendered to military authorities in San Jose this morning after more than a month of unauthorized absence while he prepared his application for discharge as a conscientious objector.

``The military coerces people into killing,'' Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk told a small crowd of reporters and well-wishers who gathered outside the Marine Corps reserve center on Mission Street in San Jose. ``I may not be a hero but I know it takes courage to disobey.''

Funk, who changed into Marine Corps fatigues before walking through the reserve center gate, was accompanied by his mother and a younger sister. Among the supporters outside the gate were his attorney and a priest.

Marine Corps Capt. Patrick O'Rourke told reporters that Funk would be required to serve a form of restricted duty at the center, but he will be allowed to go home at the end of each day, while officials determined how Funk should be punished for failing to report for duty when his reserve company was given activation orders last month. O'Rourke also said military authorities will follow established procedures for considering Funk's application for a conscientious objector discharge.

While desertion is considered a serious military offense, punishable by up to two years in prison, O'Rourke said the fact that Funk had contacted military officials and arranged to turn himself in was a ``positive factor'' in the young man's favor.

The procedures in filing as a conscientious objector are rigorous: An applicant must submit a detailed letter explaining how his or her feelings have changed since joining the armed forces. Then there are interviews with a military chaplain, a psychiatrist and an investigating officer, with a final decision made by top military commanders.

``They don't make it easy,'' said Aimee Allison, a former Army combat medic who received a conscientious objector discharge in 1992. Allison, who lives in Oakland, is advising Funk on his application.

When his activation orders came in mid-February, Funk said he had only recently learned about the conscientious objector process, and he needed more time to complete his application. Other members of the San Jose-based 1st Beach & Terminal Operations Company were sent to San Diego and were scheduled to go overseas from there. But Funk didn't go.

``I didn't expect to be deployed so soon,'' he said.

Funk, who was raised Catholic but doesn't practice regularly, said his mother raised him and his two sisters in Seattle, with help from his immigrant Filipino grandparents. Although he was never violent as a youth, he said, his opposition to war crystallized after he enlisted last year.

At the time he joined, Funk had dropped out of college and was working at an East Bay pet store. He didn't know many people here, he said. ``I didn't have a lot of direction or a sense of connection.''

When a recruiter approached him -- ``I'm not sure how he got my number in the first place'' -- Funk said he thought the military might be like an adult version of the Boy Scouts. ``I thought I'd be learning new stuff, getting exercise, learning leadership and teamwork.''

Lance Cpl. Patrick O'Day of Santa Rosa, seen here with his wife, Shauna, was just 20 years old when he was killed last week in Iraq when his tank plunged off a bridge into the Euphrates River. It was dark, and with a heavy sandstorm there were no witnesses, his father said. "We were worried," Tim O'Day said. "We knew there was a risk, but we thought it was very small. This is not what we thought would happen.

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I was saddened to read today of Lance Cpl. Patrick O'Day death, and the grief his wife and family are now enduring. I know the whole argument about "serving one's country", but how many American young people, and countless Iraqis will die before this is all over. And for what?

These are sad days in America.......

Here is an mp3 of an interview with Stephen Funk http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=6732

The conscientious objector always appears at a time of conflict. Prior to the conflict they are eager to receive money for school, extra pay, new experiences, extra challenges, training. When the return is asked of the investment made in them, they cry "I didn't know I'd have to go to war!" What a crock. They should be jailed with hard labor until such time as they can re-pay the money spent on them and what they received directly. How could someone, misguided and directionless or otherwise, not know that the Marines go to war to kill the enemy. That is their mission, to attack the enemy. To his credit he turned himself in, but now he should meet some consequences.

Let's jail the military recruiters who lie to impressionable young folks, mostly poor and people of color. Telling them how great the military would be and how once you get out (they don't ever talk about getting killed or killing someone else) you supposedly get all of these great benefits. Hum? How about that? And unless you've ever walked in Stephen's shoes, who the fuck are you to judge the decisions he makes? You don't want folks who shouldn't be in the military not to join, GIVE THEM A FUCKING CHANCE AT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE BESIDES PRISON AND THE MILITARY!!!

Besides, you can't fault anyone from wanting out of a deal when the deal goes sour. Besides, if it's just a job that you can get fired from, you should also be able to quit.

What's so wrong about that?

All of these folks who fault the guy for quitting must have never been harassed by recruiters or served in the military. Predictably, they're all fucking armchair warriors and cowards.

Sounds like Stephen Funk is in breach of contract.
He should compensate the injured party (US Marine Corp) for breaking the contract.
I think that repayment of all pay, as well as return of all issued equipment and a penalty fee should be assessed.
When you join the military, you swear an oath.

"I, {insert name here}, do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.(mandatory)
So help me God.(optional)"

Stephen Funk had plenty of chances to back out. There is the myriad of forms to sign, culminating in the military oath.

And yes, I did serve in the US military, honorably. Stephen Funk deserves a DISHONORABLE discharge. There is a label for people that do not keep their word.

Well I did serve in the Marines, '87-'91, and would not consider myself an armchair warrior. I am familiar with the sands of Iraq, as well as the people there. At the time I joined the Marines I expected a conflict in Central America to be unavoidable and never gave a thought to Iraq and Kuwait. But I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone with such strong beliefs against what is the primary mission of the Marine Corps would join this branch. If you want to learn about computers or stay out of war then you should join the Air Force, or even the Army, in one of their technical specialties. The only reason the Marine Corps exists is for offensive combat. The are not a defensive force and always fall a bit short when forced into this role by politicians. The only reason to join the Marines is to be the best and to be a warrior. I am sure that you people will smirk at that, but it remains the truth. If you have never been there then you can never comprehend what it is like to be a Marine or to be in combat. You can watch it in the news, read books and newspaper accounts, and watch all the Bruce Willis movies you want, but you will still have not the slightest idea what it is like.

Yes, I support this young man for standing up for what he believes in, if this is truly the case. So far I have not heard him bad-mouthing those who choose and love the Marine way of life. I am just tired of hearing people talking about how bad our President is and how great Saddam is. You folks need to pull your heads out of your asses and open your eyes. Saddam and his gang have been torturing and murdering his people for decades. He needs to go down. End of story. It is the right thing to do.

One last point. Americans are very sheltered and most cannot comprehend how people in Arab countries think. Believe me, it is not like us. They are not better, nor are they worse. Just different. The conflict and removal of Saddam and his regime is only the start. The real work will come after the smoke clears and the Iraqi people have to decide what kind of leadership they want.

Semper Fi my Brothers and Sisters. The Corps is not for everyone...thank God!

Since when were you given the right to decide who the leaders of foreign countries should be? Is that the new American way is it? (Well not really as we all know, but this is a pretty brutal example of it.) Don't you belive it is the duty of a soldier to disobey unlawful commands? Most probably not, a soldier's conscience is as wide as hell as Shakespeare wrote. Invading other people's countries, countries which have not attacked you or threaten you is best left up to entities that litter the dust-bin of history like the USSR and Nazi Germany, do you think? Really, DO YOU THINK? Or do they drum that out of you in basic training. Once a Marine, never again a Human being! Think that's more catchy than Semper Fie.