This G.I.Joe won't go: ex soldier resists backdoor draft into Iraq war

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=891&e=1&u=/laweekly/57965

Maybe it was that first bayonet drill, in basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, that made Jim Denofa realize he didn’t belong in the Army.

“You had to stab a dummy shaped like a person,” says Denofa. “I hated it. I hated it. It was like you had to stab a person.”

Denofa got through the minimum tour — three years — and got out in early 2003. Since February he’s been teaching gym classes for young children in Los Angeles, while also working as a personal trainer.

Then, in late July, he got the call. Uncle Sam wanted him back to fight in Iraq (news - web sites). Denofa, 24, has become a casualty in what critics — including Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry — are calling a backdoor draft caused by the stagnating war.

Denofa thought he’d left military service behind. The Army, however, has the right to call him back for up to eight years from the time he first enlisted. He’s part of what’s called the Individual Ready Reserve.

But this GI Joe won’t go.

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[EmperorHasNoClothes]

1. Good for him.

Individual Ready Reserve is a bunch of crap.

[Jack from Charlotte]

10. I wonder how many are getting doctor's files on "injuries" in order to...

avoid call up. That was the thing back in the 60's. LOADS of guys got medical files of various "dizziness" or mental or nerve type "injuries." Things that couldn't be easily confirmed via medical physical. Many physicians cooperated by providing tests and diagnoses....

There was a classified in the student newspaper at The University of Florida that ran for 2 years. It was for a clinic in Coral Gables that specialized in building med files for draft purposes. For $1,500 they essentially guaranteed getting you out of the draft.

That has to be going on now with these guys.

[kath]

2. His mention of the bayonet drill ("kill, kill, kill!") made me think of

the Tom Paxton song "The Willing Conscript"
The lyrics are here:
http://www.findlyrics.com/song/p/Paxton_Tom/Miscellaneous/Willing_Conscript/55716.html

Here are three of the verses:

Now there are rumors in the camp about our enemy
They say that when you see him, he looks just like you and me
But you deny it, Sergeant, and you're a man of war
So you must give me lessons, for I've never killed before

Now there are several lessons that I have not mastered yet
I haven't got the hang of how to use the bayonet
If he doesn't die at once, am I to stick him with it more?
Oh I hope you will be patient, for I've never killed before

And the hand grenade is something that I just don't understand
You've got to throw it quickly or you're apt to lose your hand
Does it blow a man to pieces with its wicked muffled roar?
Oh I've got so much to learn because I've never killed before

[wickerwoman]

3. I love how the story paints him as a coward in the beginning.

The real story is his refusal to serve in an unjust war not the fact that "he doesn't belong in the army."

I'm glad that this is being reported at all, but it still misses the point completely.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. If it is cowardly to be repulsed by the idea of stabbing a person

Then this is a world that could use a lot more cowards.

[wickerwoman]

16. I'm not saying I think it's cowardly.

I'm saying that's what the phase "doesn't belong in the army" makes it sound like.

[DuctapeFatwa]

17. I know, I didn't mean to imply that was your notion. And he doesn't belong

in the army. The army is for people who are willing to kill when they are told to do so, without asking questions. And the US army is for those who are not only willing, but enjoy things far worse than killing, from the victim's point of view.

[Kenergy]

4. If I were him, I'd just tell them I'm a gay, pot-smoking liberal...

Don't ask, but tell them to go to hell.

[teryang]

5. Eight years???

WTF.

[Arianrhod]

8. Standard Army contract.

All enlistees are obligated to serve 8 years, either as active duty or reserve. I served 10, in order to ensure that I could never be called back again.

[teryang]

14. thanks for letting me know

I'm way out of date on Army practices. I used to be an expert. The standard contract was six years, years ago. I guess with the downsizing, they need to keep people on the hook longer.

[Arianrhod]

19. Oh, yeah.

They changed the rules the year I joined. Natch. :)

[anarchy1999]

6. Go and rate this story a 5. Make it be the top at Yahoo. CO's need our

help.

[JoFerret]

9. Ah - now that is anarchist

activism at work.

[hadrons]

7. good for him ....

Maybe it was that first bayonet drill, in basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, that made Jim Denofa realize he didn’t belong in the Army.

I realized I didn't belong in the Army a lot sooner than him (Ft. Sill, 1988) ... it was unbelieveable, they won't let you go. Finally, I had to use my only weapon, passive-aggressiveness and I caused enough problems that they let me go

[jackofhearts]

11. Can we get one thing straight here...

This is NOT a WAR...it is an OCCUPATION! That should be the objection. The use of the term "war" for this bullshit we started is just wrong. It is an occupation of a nation for their oil resources plain and simple. I hope these soldiers start speaking out in harsher language. We are NOT DEFENDING our nation...we are pillaging another nation. A nation whose population DOES NOT WANT US THERE...

Let the president answer a higher anarchy
Strap him with an Ak-47, let him go, fight his own war
Let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil
No more psychological warfare, to trick us to thinking that we ain't loyal
If we don't serve our own country, we're patronizing a hero
Look in his eyes its all lies
The stars and stripes, they've been swiped, washed out and wiped
And replaced with his own face, Mosh now or die
If I get sniped tonight you know why,
Cause I told you to fight.

----Eminem

[Hog lover]

15. You are so right - this is not a "War" but an occupation

Bush is a mass murderer.

[Nlighten1]

13. This same thing happened to me during Gulf War I

I had ETS'ed just 9 months prior to GW I. One day while I was at work my Dad called me and told me I had a telegram that ordered me to report to Ft. Benning, GA for inprocessing.

I understand completely what this guy is thinking. Even though I reported for duty I don't begrudge this guy not wanting to go. The situation is much different than it was in GW I.

[Kimber Scott]

18. Strap an AK-47 to him, let him go fight his own war, impress his daddy

that way. (Paraphrasing "Mosh" by Eminem)

Quoting Eminem:

FUCK Bush.