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[first person testemony]

“Who are you?”

In spring 1983, the US Army assigned me to the 25th infantry

division at Schofield Barracks Army Base in Hawaii.
As a conscientious objector, I knew that I was not supposed
to be in an infantry unit.

By André Hope

As a matter of fact, my job title I did not have a weapon. When he out a weapon, and if I refused he
was nursing and I was supposed to ordered me to fall out of formation would put me in jail and later cut
be assigned to the hospital. After and to report to the arms room to me out of the Army.
informing the unit commander and sign out a weapon I answered him It only took the commander
the first sergeant that I may be in with a strong, “No, Sir!” Since the about 10 minutes to find my
the wrong unit I was told that they general was now inspecting my conscientious objector paperwork.
would look into it and get back to unit, the unit commander ordered It was right where it was supposed
me; but they never did. me to fall out of formation and wait to be, behind my enlisted papers.
Six months later the division for him in his office, I answered, The commander now knew that he
commander called for a division- “Yes, Sir!” and followed his order. could not legally order me to sign
wide command inspection with After the inspection was over the out a weapon. However, he twice
weapons. On the day of the commander came into his office, ordered me to sign out a weapon
inspection everyone in my unit and he was very angry. He ordered anyway, and each time I answered
went to the arms room and signed me to go to personnel to sign out him with a “No, Sir!” At this time
out their assigned weapon. That is, my records and bring them to him. the commander ordered the first
everyone except for me. When the When I returned he informed me sergeant to have an M16 rifle
call was given to fall into formation that he would be going through my brought into the unit office. Once
I stood in my place. Since I was on records and if he could not find my he returned with the weapon the
the front rank it did not take long conscientious objector paperwork commander told the first sergeant
for the unit commander to see that he would give me the order to sign to throw the rifle at me and told me
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