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Soldier Refuses To Return To Iraq
Matthis Chiroux is facing a hearing to determine whether or not he will be dishonorably discharged from the Army. He recently refused to deploy to Iraq. What do you think of this story? Is Chiroux right or should he be dishonorably discharged?
ST. LOUIS (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
An Army reservist who refused to deploy to Iraq says he's been given a general discharge under honorable conditions. Matthis Chiroux says that means he retains most of his benefits. Some veterans are upset by his defiance, but some are just as upset by something Chiroux did on Fox 2 News in the Morning. Chiroux wore his Army fatigues when he appeared on Fox 2 Tuesday morning, but his American flag patch on his right arm, was upside down.
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"That's very upsetting. That says a lot," says Desert Storm Veteran Jeff Vilcek. To Vilcek and other veterans at VFW Post 3500 in Richmond Heights, the flag is America, and someone wearing it upside down is an un-American insult.
"What about all the other ones that died?" asks Frank Laury. "The guy's all wrong. He's wrong."
After his daylong hearing was over, Chiroux appeared at a Veterans for Peace meeting, without his uniform on, and defended his flag display. "That upside down flag, it is patriotic," he says. "It is a patriotic expression of distress and this nation is in distress and I'm not ashamed to say so."
Chiroux told the crowd of anti-war activists that the Army gave him the general discharge under honorable conditions. He touted the radical ways he resisted the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he calls illegal.
"I've climbed national monuments and dropped off banners that said, 'arrest Bush and Cheney war criminals', I've draped shrouds over military recruiting centers to honor the victims of the global war on terror. I've issued apologies to Afghani parliamentarians," says Chiroux.
He claims the wars in both countries are wars of American aggression.
Vilcek says he doesn't understand. "I mean the man had a choice when he chose to put that uniform on, so what changed? Why did he change his views? His opinions? Which we're all entitled to, but I feel once you put the uniform on, and take an oath, you should stand by it."
Chiroux says he's standing by the constitution, which he claims America did not do, when beginning the war in Iraq. "It doesn't matter what our governments say," says Chiroux. "If the people can come to the understanding between them that we refuse to continue the hate, and to fight and to kill, we can have peace. And we don't need armies to build it."
JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON OUR BLOGS
"That's very upsetting. That says a lot," says Desert Storm Veteran Jeff Vilcek. To Vilcek and other veterans at VFW Post 3500 in Richmond Heights, the flag is America, and someone wearing it upside down is an un-American insult.
"What about all the other ones that died?" asks Frank Laury. "The guy's all wrong. He's wrong."
After his daylong hearing was over, Chiroux appeared at a Veterans for Peace meeting, without his uniform on, and defended his flag display. "That upside down flag, it is patriotic," he says. "It is a patriotic expression of distress and this nation is in distress and I'm not ashamed to say so."
Chiroux told the crowd of anti-war activists that the Army gave him the general discharge under honorable conditions. He touted the radical ways he resisted the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he calls illegal.
"I've climbed national monuments and dropped off banners that said, 'arrest Bush and Cheney war criminals', I've draped shrouds over military recruiting centers to honor the victims of the global war on terror. I've issued apologies to Afghani parliamentarians," says Chiroux.
He claims the wars in both countries are wars of American aggression.
Vilcek says he doesn't understand. "I mean the man had a choice when he chose to put that uniform on, so what changed? Why did he change his views? His opinions? Which we're all entitled to, but I feel once you put the uniform on, and take an oath, you should stand by it."
Chiroux says he's standing by the constitution, which he claims America did not do, when beginning the war in Iraq. "It doesn't matter what our governments say," says Chiroux. "If the people can come to the understanding between them that we refuse to continue the hate, and to fight and to kill, we can have peace. And we don't need armies to build it."
Why in the world did he join the US military anyway? He is a disgrace to this country, the American flag, the uniform and all the fine men and women in the US military. If all is so bad then he should go live in Iraq or Afghanistan. To receive any benefits from the military, absolutely not!
SClark2651 @ 9:34 AM CDT, Apr 22, 2009
I was the one in the interview and they wouldn't of shown me had i displayed my true feeling's about this un-American and his total disrespect toward's all who have fallen before us! He is basically saying " Let's let the terrorist walk all over us!!
Vilcekj@yahoo.c-om @ 9:28 AM CDT, Apr 22, 2009
This man raised his hand and took an oath to support and defend his country. By not deploying to Iraq he chose to send someone to do his obligation that he raised his right and swore to do, He gets no sympathy from this ex marine/
steve k @ 9:14 AM CDT, Apr 22, 2009
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