| Army sergeant refused iraq duty charged with desertion Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aQL7aI9UATAo&refer=top_world_newshttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aQL7aI9UATAo&refer=top_world_news
Army Sergeant Who Refused Iraq Duty Charged With Desertion
Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Army Sgt. Kevin Benderman, a 10- year veteran who refused a second tour of duty in Iraq, will answer to charges of desertion and missing deployment at a preliminary military hearing on Feb. 7.
``I had no idea they'd be charging me with desertion, so I guess you could say I'm kind of surprised,'' Benderman said in an interview today with Bloomberg News. He faces a prison sentence of as long as seven years if convicted, the loss of pay and benefits, and a dishonorable discharge.
Benderman was ordered on Jan. 7 to report for transport to Iraq with the rest of his forward support company, part of the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. After his first tour in Iraq, from March through September 2003, he decided to apply for conscientious-objector status, one of at least two dozen soldiers to do so last year.
``If you take a look at the devastating effects of war, how much destruction and horror goes on, you can't even imagine it,'' said Benderman, 40. ``I'll never forget for as long as I live this one little girl standing by a road. Her arm was so badly burned it was black, burned to a crisp.''
The Army accused Benderman of intentionally missing his flight back to Iraq, saying he should have remained with his unit while his status was being reviewed. Benderman was granted two weeks of leave, and said he will use it to prepare his defense.
Officials at Fort Stewart did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Desertions Falling
About 2,400 U.S. soldiers were classified as deserters or absent without leave last year, down from 3,600 in 2003 and 4,400 in 2002, said Dov Schwartz, an Army spokesman.
In the first half of 2004, 13 soldiers were granted conscientious-objector status and 10 were denied, Schwartz said. Figures for the second half weren't available, he said.
In 2003, 31 applications were approved and 30 denied. In 2002, 17 were approved and six denied; in 2001, 18 were approved and five denied.
To qualify as a conscientious objector and receive an honorable discharge, an applicant must first have an interview with a military chaplain. In an e-mailed response to his request for an interview more than a month ago, the chaplain at Fort Stewart criticized Benderman's conduct.
``You should be ashamed of the way you have conducted yourself,'' wrote Capt. Matt Temple. ``I certainly am ashamed of you.'' Temple didn't return a call seeking comment on the e-mail. Last Updated: January 21, 2005 13:10 EST
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