Army Sgt. Matthis Chiroux Refuses His Deployment to Iraq in the halls of Congress

[NNN0LHI]

http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/05/97242.shtml

Iraq Veteran Publicly Refuses to Deploy to Iraq in the halls of Congress

By Erin Thompson

Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, a 24-year-old who spent nearly five years serving in the U.S. Army, publicly refused his orders to deploy to Iraq today. Chiroux made the statement in the rotunda of the Cannon Building of the House of Representatives, just minutes after 8 members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War testified about the realities of the U.S. occupation of Iraq to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. snip

Statement:

"Good afternoon, my name is Sergeant Matthis Chiroux and I served as an army photo journalist until being honorably discharged last summer after over four years of service in Afghanistan and Europe and the Phillipines.

As an army journalist whose job it was to college and filter service members’ stories, I heard many a stomach-churning testimony of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq. For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these crimes. Never again will I allow fear to silence me. Never again will I fail to stand. In February, I received a letter from the Army, ordering my return to active duty, with the purpose of mobilization in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thanks in great part to the truths of war being fearlessly spoken by my fellow IVAW members, I stand before you today with the strength and clarity and resolve to declare the military and my government and the world that this soldier will not be deploying to Iraq.

This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal, and I hereby lawfully refuse to participate as I will surely be a party to war crimes. Furthermore, deployment and support of illegal war violates all of my core values as a human being. But in keeping with those values, I choose to remain in the United States to defend myself from charges brought by the Army, if they so wish to pursue them.

I refuse to participate in the Iraq occupation."

[jimshoes]

1. A journey begins with the first step

a movement begins with the first act of rebellion, Sgt. Matthis Chiroux has taken that first step and acted against this illegal and criminal occupation of Iraq. I hope he gets all the support he needs and is the first of many to refuse to take part in this criminal administration's usurpation of our once proud democracy.

[Goodnevil]

2. Now we just need to make sure

that this guy doesn't go to jail. Well done.

[LiberalAndProud]

3. Bravery defined. SERGEANT MATTHIS CHIROUX

hero.

Keith O., are you paying attention?

[MountainLaurel]

4. Wow!

:applause:

I wonder if Congress was listening?

[Winterblues]

5. I don't get it

If he was honorably discharged he can't be just recalled unless he is officially drafted and I believe the draft is no longer practiced in this country...It could be he was discharged from "Active Duty" and was on some sort of Reserve duty, otherwise unless other Americans are called up for duty via the Draft he should not have to report...It is unConstitutional. People have to be treated equally.

[14thColony]

6. He only served 5 years in the Army

Every single person who joins the US Armed Forces, officer or enlisted, is committed to an eight-year Military Service Obligation. Been that way for a long time. If you chose to serve, say, 4 years and then separate, then you still owe 4 years on your MSO. That can be served in a Reserve unit, or (probably in his case) as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve, the 'inactive reservists' who do not drill or ever wear a uniform unless recalled to active service. The President has "Reserve Callup Authority" under Title 10 of the US Code, which allows him to reactive up to 30,000 members of the IIR at any one time, without declaration of a national emergency. Historically the IIR has never been activated in any real way, and being IIR was effectively being out of the military. Not anymore. The Army is so strapped it's calling in IIRs, especially one with critical or short-supply skills. He's a photojournalist. I'm betting that's a short-handed career field for the Army. I heard about an Air Force IIR officer that the USAF tracked down in St Petersburg, Russia and involuntarily recalled to active duty. In Afghanistan I worked for an Army colonel who was RETIRED after 25 years, and then three years later was involuntarily recalled to active duty. IIRs are at least safe once their MSO runs out - retirees are considered 'permanent IIRs for life.'

[TheMightyFavog]

8. Yeah, but isn't it different with commisioned officers?

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that retired commisioned officers can be called back to active duty at any time by the President.

[Winterblues]

9. I seem to recall a Commission is for Life

Though an officer can resign his commission and be done with it..

[14thColony]

15. You can resign the commission

But I've never personally heard of anyone who has. An officer separating the service would still serve as an officer in the IIR if he/she still had an MSO requirement, and upon complete discharge (I suppose) their commission is rescinded. If I recall correctly, to resign your commission while you still have MSO left just means you serve in the IIR at an equivalent enlisted rank. Again, never even heard of anyone resigning a commission, although of course it can be done.

[14thColony]

14. True

as in the example I gave above of the Army colonel in Afghanistan. A retired officer's 'retirement pay' is not, contrary to popular belief, a reward for services already rendered. It is a retainer to secure future service if ever needed. As long as an officer accepts that retirement check he/she is still liable to be recalled to active service. Prior to the current administration I had only heard of it happening once, but in Afghanistan I met three such recalled officers, so it is becoming more common. Realistically once you've been out more than about 5 years they'd have to be pretty desparate to call you back, but it is possible.

[Winterblues]

10. That was my impression as well but the article does say he was given an Honorable Discharge.

An Honorable Discharge is not given until All obligation is completed..That includes inactive reserve.. I doubt the Honorable Discharge aspect of this story..

[14thColony]

13. Not quite

I still have my honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve that I had to receive before I could be commissioned as an active duty Air Force officer. You have to be discharged from one component to join another component, Regular forces to Reserve forces and vice versa.

[Winterblues]

16. But your obligation to that one component was complete wasn't it?

You took on new obligations as a commissioned officer and the the other obligation was considered completed..

[14thColony]

17. Yes

and that's the point I'm trying to make. If he separated (ETS'd) after a five-year enlistment, then he left the active Army with an honorable discharge from that component. The same day he would have been 'enlisted' into the Army Reserve, probably as an IIR. After three years he'll be mailed a nearly identical discharge from the Reserve, at which point he is untouchable. In fact I don't believe even a draft could touch him since his MSO is complete.

[Winterblues]

18. That isn't how it worked for me

When I ETSed I had two years left of inactive reserve. After that time was up I received an Honorable discharge in the mail. I did have my DD-214 though upon ETSing.

[14thColony]

19. I stand corrected then

I assumed it would work the same as when I went from reserve to active status, just the other way around. Was your honorable from the reserve or regular Army (or whichever service)?

[Goodnevil]

11. I don't think he has a legal leg to stand on

He's doomed himself. Straight up martyr or he's saving his own ass. I'm not sure if I'm in the position to judge this one.

[alfredo]

12. I think he mentioned the Honorable Discharge to add weight to his refusing

what he considers an illegal order. If one believes serving in Iraq is participating in a war crime, then they have the duty to speak out. If they put him on trial, then the war is also put on trial.

[Fireweed247]

7. This is so awesome!

LOVE it!
:applause:

[barbtries]

20. i've been saying for years

that the soldiers should just stop going. there can be no war without bodies to throw at it. hooray for this courageous young man.

[NNN0LHI]

21. To protect our country is one thing but to guard pipelines for EXXON is another thing entirely

I sometimes wonder if young American men and women would still be volunteering for this duty had Dimson invaded Canada "by mistake" and began stealing their oil while killing Canadians by the thousands?

I know the mercenaries would be.

Don

[OnTheRadio]

22. good for him

[roody]

23. We still have heroes!!