Ehren Watada | |
|---|---|
 Watada in uniform[1] | |
| Birth name | Ehren Keoni Watada |
| Born | 1978 (age 45–46) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 2003–2009 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant (1LT) |
| Unit | G-37, HHC, I Corps (Ft. Lewis, WA) |
| Awards | Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon |
Ehren Keoni Watada (born 1978) is a former first lieutenant of the United States Army, best known as the first commissioned officer in the US armed forces to refuse to deploy to Iraq.[2] In June 2006, Watada refused to deploy for his unit's assigned rotation to Operation Iraqi Freedom,[3][4] saying he believed the war to be illegal and that, under the doctrine of command responsibility, it would make him party to war crimes. At the time, he was assigned to duty with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, as a fire support officer. He was brought before a court-martial in 2007 which ended in a mistrial; the Army subsequently discharged him under "Other-Than-Honorable-Conditions" (OTH) in 2009.[5] An OTH discharge is the least favorable type of administrative discharge from the Army, and is reserved for a "pattern of behavior that constitutes a significant departure from the conduct expected of Soldiers of the Army."[6]
- ^ Bernton, Hal (June 7, 2006). "Officer at Fort Lewis calls Iraq war illegal, refuses order to go". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006.
- ^ Soldier's Iraq war stance backed: Watada has right to refuse to go, retired officer says, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 20, 2006.
- ^ Initial video statement of Lt. Ehren Watada June 6, 2006 Archived December 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Army lieutenant who won’t go to Iraq issues recorded statement Archived June 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Army Officer Who Refused Iraq Duty Is Allowed to Resign". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2009-09-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- ^ Wicks, CPT Bill. "Leaving on good terms: Types of discharges, their consequences". Fort Hood Sentinel. Retrieved 2016-11-25.