Brigade leaves objector behind
Stryker unit deploys to Iraq as dissenting Fort Lewis lieutenant stays
by Adam Lynn
The Tacoma News Tribune
23 June 2006
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/military/stryker/story/5860766p-5205086c.html

Fort Lewis officials are determining whether to bring misconduct charges against 1st 
Lt. Ehren Watada now that he's made good on his promise not to deploy to Iraq with his 
Stryker brigade.

On Thursday, the Army restricted Watada to post after he refused to board a bus that 
took soldiers from Fort Lewis to McChord Air Force Base, where an airplane was waiting 
to fly them to the Middle East.

His unit, part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, left without him, "honoring 
their obligation to the nation as thousands of soldiers have done before," according 
to a Fort Lewis news release.

The 4,000-member brigade is set to go to the Mosul area, where they served in 2003 and 
2004. This deployment will also last a year.

Fort Lewis spokesman Joe Hitt said Watada's commanders will meet with Army prosecutors 
to decide what to do with Watada, a 28-year-old Hawaii native. Hitt said he didn't know 
if a timetable for such a decision has been set.

Watada announced earlier this month that he would not go to Iraq because he views the 
war as illegal. He said he has a moral obligation to ignore orders to fight and is 
prepared to go to prison for his beliefs.

Watada, who joined the Army in 2003, was unavailable for comment Thursday.

His father, Bob Watada, said his son was calm Thursday morning when the time came for 
his unit to report to Fort Lewis for deployment.

"We talked for a while and said, 'OK, this is where it begins,'" said the elder Watada, 
who is visiting from Hawaii. "I got a hug - a good, long hug - and then he was on his 
way. He's made his position clear. Now it's up to the Army."

Watada was reassigned to another unit and remained on duty performing administrative 
tasks at Fort Lewis, Hitt said. He had not been arrested or jailed.

A group called Family and Friends of Lt. Watada complained in a statement that the Army 
has Watada under a "complete gag order" to silence his opposition to the war.

Hitt said Watada was free to contact his family or attorney, "so he's not gagged."

Family & Friends of Lt. Watada also announced that Tuesday will be a "national day of 
action in support of Lt. Watada."

Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel opposed to the war, said Watada is committing "a 
courageous act" by refusing to fight.

But local news coverage of the case has generated a strong reaction from many readers 
and viewers, with most of it running against Watada.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644
adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com