Auburn man’s anti-military statements draw reaction
Associated Press
This undated photo provided by the Chiroux family shows Matthis Chiroux, an Army sergeant from Alabama, right, and his father Robert Chiroux. Chiroux refused to deploy to Iraq.
Staff Writer
Published: July 8, 2009
Emotions are running high after Auburn native and antiwar activist Matthis Chiroux likened the U.S. Army to the Fourth Reich and accused it of encouraging fear, racism and sexism.
“When you hear somebody compare our military to the Fourth Reich, you kind of realize that this guy isn’t really worth listening to,” said Janine Babbitt, whose husband Maj. Erich Babbitt, an active duty Army National Guard member, has been deployed in Afghanistan for about a week.
Chiroux, who made headlines a year ago when he refused a deployment to Iraq, made his most recent comments during a service at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday.
An Opelika-Auburn News story about the event published Monday has attracted nearly 60 comments as of Wednesday night from people on both sides of the issue.
“It made me feel embarrassed and sad, not only that he’s a representative of Auburn, but that he’s serving with the military and he would have this stand with our military and country,” Babbitt said.
Her husband has been part of the military for the past 15 years, she said.
“This is our first deployment and we have nothing but great things to say about the Army,” she said. “You’re hoping that you are striving for a greater good and a greater cause and to have peace. He (Erich) volunteered because he felt like it was his turn to serve his country.”
Janine points out that America has a volunteer Army, and that it was Matthis Chiroux’s choice to join.
“We’re not drafted in this military, we volunteer to join it,” she said. “This gentleman, Matthis Chiroux, he obviously has the right to say what he wants to say because we live in a free county … We live in a free county because of the men and women who have fought to make it a free country.”
U.S. Army Capt. David Van Horn, an Alabama National Reservist and full time AGR soldier who returned from Iraq last year, and Robert Chiroux, Matthis’ father, are among those who took exception to Chiroux’s statements.
Van Horn said Matthis Chiroux is entitled to say what he wants, that it is a free country, but that being deployed in combat in Iraq is different from deployment as an Army journalist.
Van Horn said his men saw action about every other day in Iraq, and they were going “over the wire” almost every day while deployed.
“What this guy is pitching is the ugly American,” Van Horn said. “He would be pitching this if there was a cold war or a hot war. I would warn strongly against people buying into anything that hasn’t been seen first hand. Until you’ve been there, you’re not going to know.”
Sunday, Matthis said he was taught how to kill by the Army.
Van Horn said every soldier goes through basic training, whether he’s going to be in combat or not.
“Everybody has to have the basic skills to be a rifleman in a pinch,” he said. “He got the standard training everyone gets. If he got overrun he’d know how to shoot a rifle.”
While in Iraq, Van Horn said he and his men did not take part in intimidation tactics with locals. He said they tried to do right by them, including providing Iraqis with medical support, shoes and supplies.
He said having good relationships with Iraqis made his men safer.
“The army is not trying to make criminals out of people. It falls on deaf ears for someone like me who’s been out there and run the road and seen it. American soldiers aren’t built to be terroristic… It’s not who we are as people. My guys are too damn good,” Van Horn said.
Van Horn said what Matthis Chiroux said is “between him and his God and his honor.”
Matthis’ father, Robert Chiroux, Ph.D, is also speaking out. In his talk Sunday, Matthis accused his father of physical and emotional abuse. Robert denies the allegations.
“I will remain silent no longer. I respect free speech and the right to peaceably protest, but I seriously doubt my son’s convictions to the anti-war movement or any other cause except where he can profit from it. I am disappointed with my son and the effect this has had on our family…Our family does not condone Matthis’ rhetoric and would caution anyone who might consider providing him financial assistance,” his father said in a statement provided to the Opelika-Auburn News.
Sunday, Matthis admitted that tangles with law enforcement as a juvenile landed him in jail and subsequently in the Army. Matthis contends he did not a have choice in the matter, but his father said otherwise.
In his statement, Robert Chiroux said, “My days as his custodial parent ended when after yet another infraction Matthis and I met with his probation officer and an army recruiter whom I had invited.
Matthis choices were laid out for him and he did not hesitate in his choice to join the army. He was, in fact, quite glib.”
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Reader Reactions
Esquire122
I know you’re right. But I’m a simple man. I don’t know all the politics and rhetoric to make a educated argument.But I know the difference between whats right and whats wrong. This BOY aint right and I’m to old to be tolerant. Matthis, the invite still stands, come on out to Beauregard and party with a bunch of like minded folks. It will be Fun !
Beacon, your comment “You sir are a PUNK, pray we never meet because a cast will be the least of your worries.“ plays exactly into their hands. You can read my comments about Mattis and exactly what I think of his lack of character.
If the Unitarian-Universalists Peace Eagles want to invite a self-proclaimed drug user and criminal in their midst so that he can extoll the virtues they want to hear, fine. Even a wolf in fine clothing can preach to the sheep from the pulpit of naivete. Your comments, sir, are of no use any more than the comments of Matthis’ himself or those zealous acolytes of the Thach Avenue Church of Peace and Cannabis Haven, the new found home of Puff Daddy Matthis and his clouded congregants of compassion. Perhaps we should rename that corner at Thach and Auburn to Haight and Ashbury, a much more fitting accolade for the residents of those parts.
Beacon, take the high road and refute this nonsense with logic and reason. Remember, emotion-controlled thinking is their domain and is definitely not to be emulated.
Matthis
Yeah you got me thinking alright. Thinking that you are a self serving coward who deserves none of the rights and freedoms bought and paid for by men and women way more brave and honorable than you will ever be. You sir are a PUNK, pray we never meet because a cast will be the least of your worries.
Does anybody see the problem in that he was a known criminal, yet the military took him anyway? If the military accepts people who have probation officers then it can’t and shouldn’t be surprised when those people turn out to be losers like this guy. He didn’t have a probation officer because he was a fine upstanding citizen. We are giving weapons to our criminals. Be glad this guy is gone from the military. The military doesn’t need criminals.
I consider Mr. Chiroux to be a man of principle; and all the macho posturing in the world is no substitute for the integrity he has shown in refusing to participate in a war as horrific—and unnecessary—as the current fiasco in Iraq and its environs.
I respect Chiroux for taking an ethical stand in the face of the slander that is evident from these postings. I suggest that anyone who believes this Asian misadventure has anything to do with “protecting America” or “spreading freedom” in the region has been terribly misled by those for whom this expanding war has proved to be a gold mine.
Please stop being naive. No matter how much you have been taught to romanticize and glorify America’s militarism, you should step back and take a long, hard critical look at the reality.
Like Chiroux, I volunteered for enlistment in the army 42 years ago next month. My head was filled with the same kind of notions about “defending” my country from…. From what?!
By the time I had spent 12 months in Vietnam, I had begun to ask myself what my fighting Vietnamese peasants (in THEIR homeland) some 12,000 miles from my own country had to do with spreading freedom and democracy…or protecting America. Seeing the horrors inflicted upon the people, the land and the culture of Vietnam, not to mention all the blood of my comrades that was left behind, I couldn’t come up with any answer that would justify that war.
Some years afterward, I came across some writings by General Smedley D. Butler who summed up my own reluctant conclusions. He wrote:
“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.“
Now, the current war is being fought for some of the same interests…PLUS Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater, et al. So go ahead and believe all the rhetoric George Bush and others used to quicken the blood of patriotic Americans and entice young men and women into the military service; but, eventually you will see (if you bother to pay attention) that Chiroux’s stand is an honorable one…and that he is far from being the coward you accuse him of being.
If he won’t deploy then send him to the stockade at Ft. Levinworth and leave him there for about 20 years at Hard Labor!
This guy probably thinks 911 was just a hoax or that Pearl Harbor never happened.
Thanks to ALL that are Serving, have served and to those that have lost loved one’s or had family hurt, again, Thank you!
I greatly appreciate my freedom as an American and for the sacrifices that have been made that I may live in this country.
God’s Blessing and Protection to ALL who are SERVING willingly!
I guess growing up in Auburn has it’s advantages when a story like this comes up. See, growing up in Auburn, I have many friends who are police officers, attorneys, and judges.
Some of them had multiple run-ins with this coward. Not just one instance in the woods. Many instances.
While in high school, I had several classmates who were caught with small amounts of marijuana. None of them were met by a probation officer and encouraged to join the military.
This guy is nothing but a liar and a coward and a complete disgrace to the United States of America.
Truth to Power never came without lumps, folks. But it’s alright. I can take it. I ‘knew what I signed up for.‘ 8) But I’m thrilled to see so much reaction. Got ya thinkin’, didn’t it? Maybe this works like homophobia…ha! You’ll be alright. I was shocked and offended when I heard it, too. But the truth has a way of wearing on you. My faith is in peoples’ ability to change. Thanks to all my supporters. Keep the faith! Full video of my service to Auburn coming soon on matthisresists.us! Peace and Solidarity (p.s. I got my cast off!!! Hooray!!!)
I have served in two branches of the military. I graduated half a year early from Beauregard High School in 1997. I was in basic training for the United States Navy by February of 1998, and made it back home to walk with my high school graduating class. Even at an early age of adult hood, I understood the oath that I was taking and I understood what it meant to SUPPORT and DEFEND my country both foreign and domestic. During my Navy career as a Rescue Swimmer, I never once experienced racism or sexism. The only colors that we saw were RED,WHITE,AND BLUE!!!! All soldiers were soldiers no matter what gender you were. That was also the case when I served in the Army National Guard. I love my country and this young mans comments from my experience in our military are lies and I pray that no one will let his lies fog the view that they have for our military. TO ALL OF THE SOLDIERS OUT THERE SERVING FOR OUR COUNTRY, I SAY THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAY GOD BRING YOU ALL HOME SAFE.
Well, I think he has a right to his own opinion as long as he’s telling the truth. But judging by the article and the comments here, he’s not telling the truth.
I’ve met a lot of guys who came back from the war who were missing limbs and stuff, and they certainly don’t talk about the Army like this guy who never got within hearing distance of any war does.
I remember this Matthis guy from High School. Is he still camping out behind his girlfriend’s house? Wasn’t she a professor or something. I think her name was Carol. Maybe I’m mistaken.
On the other hand, there are a lot of those IVAW guys who seem disillusioned, so there must be something to what he says, otherwise there’d be a website set up to counter their lies. So there must be something to what he says.
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