From Combat Vet to Conscientious Objector

“Breaking Ranks to Shun War” (Feb. 7) poignantly reveals the struggles of a soldier who comes to realize that the death and pain caused by war is morally repugnant.

In a situation starkly reminiscent of the never-to-be-forgotten photograph of a Vietnamese girl running after being struck by napalm, Sgt. Kevin Benderman recounts his own epiphany that led to becoming a conscientious objector upon witnessing a badly burned Iraqi girl standing by the roadside. An officer in his unit, stating they could not spare their limited medical supplies, refused to help.

Benderman’s chaplain is ashamed of him for seeking conscientious objector status after his 10 years in the Army and having given far more to his country than most Americans.

One is left to wonder if this same chaplain is also ashamed of the U.S. soldiers who, according to Benderman, treat war like a video game.

Assuming Sgt. Benderman’s chaplain is Christian, there would seem a considerable chasm separating his shame of Benderman from the teachings of the founder of the faith he claims to represent.

Don Malvin

Canoga Park

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Sgt. Benderman changed his mind about returning to Iraq only after seeing our atrocities the first time. He should be proud of his convictions -- although albeit too late.

Brent Waterbury

Anaheim Hills

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Your article does not explain why Sgt. Benderman didn’t simply request reassignment to Alabama to work on a political campaign as did his commander in chief, since it’s probably too late to use the precedent established by Vice President Dick Cheney -- “I had other priorities.”

Benderman, like Sen. John Kerry, has already served in combat, therefore he must indeed be a coward.

John Boydstun

Woodland Hills