ONE SOLDIER’S WAR: Soldier from Auburn to refuse Iraq deployment
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STAFF WRITERS
Published: May 15, 2008
Matthis Chiroux had it all planned out after he graduated from Auburn High School in 2002.
First, he would join the U.S. Army. Then, he would use his G.I. Bill benefits to enroll in college to pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer. After college, Matthis planned to become a public defender and dabble in politics.
And the 24-year-old Army sergeant’s dream was on track when he was honorably discharged last September. He wasted no time moving to New York City to attend college as a journalism and pre-law major.
But less than six months after relocating, the Army came calling again. This time, they needed him to deploy to Iraq.
On Thursday, Matthis, joined by members of the nonprofit organization Iraq Veterans Against the War, publicly announced in Washington, D.C., his plans to ignore the Army’s orders to report to Iraq on June 15.
In a press conference held in the Cannon House Office Building, Matthis read a statement that said, in part:
“As an Army journalist whose job it was to collect and filter service members’ stories, I heard many stomach-churning testimonies of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq. For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these crimes, but never again will I allow fear to silence me. “Never again will I fail to stand. … This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal, and I hereby lawfully refuse to participate, as I will surely be a party to war crimes. …”
According to Department of Defense policy, the Army can recall soldiers for up to four years after their active-duty service. If Matthis refuses to report to duty in June, Nathan Banks, spokesman for the Pentagon, said Matthis could be listed as absent without official leave (AWOL) and could possibly face arrest.
His father, Rob Chiroux, said he is worried about his son’s future if he doesn’t return to the Army. He realizes his son could stand to lose everything he has gained in his military career: college funding, veteran health benefits — even his honorable discharge status.
Rob Chiroux was quick to add, however, that no matter what his son decides on June 15 — to serve again or to fight reactivation into the Army — he stands firmly behind his son’s decision.
“I support my son 100 percent,” Rob Chiroux said. “I would support him if he chose to go back to Iraq, and I’d worry about him every day.”
Following his announcement, Matthis Chiroux said he felt at peace.
“I don’t fear any prosecution,” Matthis Chiroux said. “There may be repercussions, and I’m ready to face them.”
Matthis enlisted in the Army days after graduating from high school. During his five-year enlistment, Matthis served as a journalist in the Army, with tours in Germany, Japan, Afghanistan and the Philippines.
While serving in Afghanistan and Palawan, Philippines, Matthis experienced hostile environments fighting against Islamic insurgents.
After receiving the Army’s orders to deploy to Iraq, Matthis was depressed, confining himself inside his New York apartment, he said. He reflected on his values and his views of the Iraq War.
“There was just no way I could carry a weapon, go to Iraq and not be part of the problem,” Matthis said by telephone Thursday, referring to the Iraq War, which, he said, he has opposed from the start.
Rob Chiroux, a Navy veteran and self-described conservative who voted for George W. Bush twice, said he is having second thoughts about the Iraq War.
“He feels strongly that this is wrong, and I feel strongly that this is wrong,” Rob Chiroux said, regarding the Army’s orders to have his son return to active duty.
Taking a stand against issues was something Rob Chiroux and his son often talked about when Matthis was growing up, especially when the topic turned to politics.
Rob Chiroux would sometimes tell his son, “If you want to change the system, you’re going to have to take a stand.”
Army Policy on Conscientious Objection (From the Department of Defense and complied by BRITTANY WHITLEY)
- Army Regulation 600-43, Conscientious Objection, dated 15 May 1998, defines conscientious objection as a firm, fixed and sincere objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms because of religious training and belief.
- Regulation recognizes two types of “conscientious objector” statuses.
- A 1-0 conscientious objector application is when the soldier is sincerely opposed because of religious or deeply held moral or ethical (not political, philosophical or sociological) beliefs to participating in war in any form.
- A 1-A-0 conscientious objector application is when the soldier is sincerely opposed because of religious or deeply held moral or ethical (not political, philosophical or sociological) beliefs to participating as a combatant (including training in tactics or weapons) in war in any form.
- Soldiers who consider themselves conscientious objectors must submit their claim to a three-person board
- The Department of the Army Conscientious Objector Review Board (CORB) is composed of one officer from the Office of the Chief, Army Chaplains, a second from the Office of the Army Judge Advocate General and the third member is from the Army Special Review Board. The appropriate offices (OTJAG, Chief of Chaplain, and SRB) identify their respective board member.
- The board forms a decision based on the merits of each conscientious objection claim.
- Each soldier’s situation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- As of Sept. 30, 2005, the number of soldiers applying to be classified as conscientious objectors remains small, about 0.01percent of the force of 492,728 active duty soldiers.
- The Army accommodates genuine conscientious objectors, but soldiers serve in an all-volunteer Army.
- New recruits sign a statement indicating they are not a “conscientious objector.”
- Applicants to the Army who were previously conscientious objectors must sign an affidavit stating that they have abandoned their conscientious objector beliefs and principles and that they are willing to bear arms and give full and unqualified service to the United States.
Source: Department of Defense
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Reader Reactions
To Cowboy 67, I’d like to reply to your points:
First, I don’t know who you a talking about when you refer to “those who think we need the UN’s permission to go to war.“ Who said that?
The U.S. can go to war without the backing of the U.N., but if recent history teaches us anything we should see that it really isn’t the brightest thing to do. A consensus and the approval and active involvement of other U.N. nations would have made a huge difference in how this particular fiasco has turned out. For example, our government would not have had to drag our National Guard overseas because they lacked enough troops in Iraq, nor would they have had to resort to this “backdoor draft” that they are calling “stop/loss.“
As far as your decree that I will be “judged when the time comes,“ I need a bit of clarification. What exactly will I be “judged” about? Supporting this man’s decision to not participate in an unjust war?
With regard to “judging” you or other so-called “christians” based on the lack of compassion you show and the support you continue to give to the unjustified slaughter taking place in Iraq, what would you expect?
Christians hypocritically moralize about love and the sanctity of life, about the redemptive power of your religion and how “the truth shall set you free,“ yet you are not not outraged by the fact that this sanctimonious president and his cohorts lied, manipulated and distorted evidence in order to be able to start this war, making a mockery of the very concept of truth and the sanctity of life.
You are not disturbed or moved by the magnitude of the death and destruction that occurs daily—not in a meaningful way, and certainly not enough to make an effort to stop it. Is THAT what Jesus would do? You should keep your fingers crossed that I’m right and you are wrong where your religion is concerned, because if there really is a god who will be acting as a judge when you die then you’ve got much bigger things to worry about than my words.
Next, the U.N. Oil for Food scandal. In the words of your buddy Dick Cheney—so? That’s not the reason given for going to war with Iraq. The Bush administrations reasons for starting this war have all been proven to be wrong or made up. Here’s one for you—The Downing Street Memo. Does THAT ring a bell?
Lastly, I would accept the thoughtful and considered conclusion of the situation in Iraq given by a soldier who daily communicated with a wide cross-section of military personnel as part of his duties over some “cowboy” who will not address his own moral hypocrisy and has nothing to say on the subject that he hasn’t heard first on Fox News any day.
My son, a Lt. Col. in the Army received the Bronze Star of Valor for service in Afghanistan and Iraq. He, with many other officers, was sent to Ft. Dix last year for Ethics training. He drove up to Boston to surprise me for Mother’s Day. When you’ve had your guts torn out daily worrying about your child in a war-torn country where IEDs from rightfully furious inhabitants kill anyone in their path, literally, your heart rejoices when your oldest son shows up on your doorstep on Mother’s Day, combat boots and all.
He told me that fully 1/3rd of the officers he was there with ‘know that this war is based on a crock of s… and the others just aren’t courageous enough to admit it.‘ By the way, it’s not the president these guys swore to support, it’s the Constitution…..which says nothing about invading other countries to take control of their oil. “When we travel the road of building an empire, we will cease to be a democracy and become a despotism,“ said John Q. Adams, one of our nation’s founders and presidents. I find it so sad but prophetic that he used the preposition ‘when’, not ‘if’.
SPP,
I find it funny that you think I am from Alabama. Yes I currently live in Alabama, but, sorry, I am not a born and raised Alabamian. There are a lot of great people here as there are all over the world. Wether they agree with me on this issue or not.
It is ashamed that you think you are better than everyone with your Birmingham education and all. You must really miss Alabama. Being that you now reside in Boston, MA. you sure do have a lot of comment about Alabama. I am willing to bet your Birmingham Southern professor was a true Yankee, hence him telling you that you were ignorant because you were/are so isolated. That is probably right, although being in Alabama or the south for that matter does not isolate you. It is your ignorance that isolates you. Please keep your ignorance in Boston. We do not need you back here. Alabama is glad to be rid of you.I am sure your B’ham Southern education has really opened your eyes to a world that you more than likely have not even visited.
I think you really have problems. No one here brought up any issues regarding race, well, except you. Stick to the facts of the issue. There is no reason to assume anyone here is a racist. If you want to provide facts about the issue, please do so. Don’t ramble on and on about nothing. Isn’t that something your B’ham Southern education taught you?
I have lived around the world. If you did not see my prior posts, I have 19 years with the military. That, is a whole lot of moving. Not sure about your living conditions, but living where I have has opened my eyes wide to a lot of things.
AS A SOLDIER IN THE US ARMY I’M VERY DEEPLY ANGRY AND ENRAGED BY THIS ARTICLE AND THIS SGT CHIROUX. HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE ARMY VALUES AND LIVE BY THEM. THIS GUY HASN’T EVEN STEPPED FOOT INTO IRAQ AND IS JUDGING BY STUFF THATS NOT EVEN TRUE. I JUST RETURNED FROM IRAQ IN LAST YEAR AND I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THAT THE LEFT WING PEOPLE AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING IT OUT TO BE. IF HE DOESN’T WANT TO GO THEN FINE HE SHOULD JUST GIVE UP ALL HIS BENEFITS AND PAY BACK EVERYTHING THAT THE ARMY GAVE HIM. MY OPINION IS FROM FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE NOT A MADE UP STORY SOMEONE HAS SAID AND CHANGED OVER TIME. IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN THERE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHATS THERE AND HOW THE WAR IS GOING. SO IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT I DON’T CARE I BELIEVE IN WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING AND HELP IRAQ REBUILD ITSELF. JUST REMEMBER THIS THAT IT TOOK MORE THEN A COUPLE YEARS FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO SET ITSELF UP AND THEN IT TOOK A LOT OF HELP FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
SPC NELSON, THOMAS
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM VETERAN 2006-2007
Cowboy67, You now are the epitamy of why I moved out of Alabama, away from the ignorance that thinks itself knowledge. In Birmingham Southern sociology classes, we learned that one reason we Southerners actually WERE so ignorant was because we were isolated. As many Scotch-Irish immigrants came in and lived in the hills, they swapped opinion and had no one to confront them with the facts. So they called it ‘knowledge’. And you, poor fool, are representative of the twisted minds I knew so well, spouting their “Segregation Forever” hatred.
1. I served in Iraq in 2005-2005 as the Commander, Company C, 2nd Battalion 34th Armor, 1st Infantry division, attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry division.
Wounded in action 21 June 2005.
My sister (USAF) served in Afghanistan 2004 and Uzbekistan in 2002.
By Brother-in-law served in Iraq in 2006-2007, with the 82nd Airborne, 504th PIR.
My father fought in Vietnam, 1st Infantry division, 1968-69.
There, now do I have the credibility required to ask Cheroux to prove the allegations he made?
2. As for your second point, you went from pictures of “dead babies” and “dead civilians” (I assume you mean that you’ve pictures of dead civilians, including babies) and then blame the corrupt American media for not publishing them, (although Reuters isn’t, the BBC isn’t and al0jazeera isn’t US-owned, and would have no problem publishing them) and then you go into spurts of Nazism and Genocide and BushCheneyHaliburtonCompany vitriol.
Was there a question in there?
One for you—of your dead civilians, can you identify how they were killed, and when, and by whom? War tends to be ugly. Civilians, even children are sometimes killed in war. It isn’t something that can be helped, but we do our best to avoid killing non-combatants. Their deaths alone don’t make something a war crime, or even an atrocity. In the case of Saddam Fedayeen pulling babies from incubators in Kuwait City’s hospitals, and then throwing them to the floor, yes, that is an atrocity. That is criminal.
But pictures of dead civilians? Without explanation of circumstance, they’re just dead civilians.
Chuck Z,
1. What company and division did you serve with in Iraq? in Afghanistan? in Vietnam? My son and boyfriend served in both.
2. I have pictures of dead Iraqi children and dead Iraqi civilians with their intestines spilling out that the corrupt American mainstream media will not allow to be seen. Why? Because the sight of all the body bags from Vietnam helped American outrage that brought THAT ‘mistake’ killing 54,000 of us to an end. The war criminals in the Bush administration, some convicted felons from the Nixon admin., saw to it that the newspapers were censored so we wouldn’t see all the dead bodies. Heck, they don’t even count the dead Iraqis. Since they’re not quite human (a supreme rule in training good Christian boys to kill their fellow man), it doesn’t matter. Mengele thought the Jews were animals, so what did it matter if he killed pregnant women while doing his experiments. Same thing.
More later. It’s beautiful in Boston today, but I have work to do.
Just a few points to prove the Bush bashing, wanna call us non Christians, and those who think we need to have the United Nations (UNs)permission to go to war…
If you think congress, who signed up for the war, did not know what the Bush administration knew(WMDs), then you really have the wool pulled over your eyes! Your Reps in Congress can get their hands on the same info the President has. It was just that some voted for the war, some voted against the war, some voted for & against the war.
For those calling us non-comassionate and non-Christian, You will not judge me or others! YOU, will be judged when the time comes! The last time I knew, there was a little of everything in the Bible. Christians being compassionate, and going to war! Read…Numbers 31:2 & Deuteronomy 20:16-17.
Something about the UN. Oil for food scandal. Does that ring a bell? Since when does the U.S., unfortunately a member of the UN, take its marching orders from any country or group? There were how many UN resolutions ...“authorizing member states to use all necessary means to uphold and implement its resolutions…“ The US was the only country that did what it was supposed to. Seems to me that France & Germany, two allied powers, were caught up in the oil for food program. Seems some of those officials were taking money.
chiroux has no facts that there are any war crimes being commited in Iraq. He never served there. He is only whining about this now because he is in the middle of going to college, paid for by his GI bill.
All the above ARE facts! No Bush bashing, No Democrat bashing, No religion bashing
Why wasn’t this guy protesting the war and reporting these “war crimes” before now? Why has he just now decided to make his so called stand. As long as he is getting his free ride to Law school he will keep his mouth shut, but when it comes time to do what we are paying him for he’s going to make a stand…The US is not longer drafting people, If these guys/girls don’t like the military and the idea of war why do they go into the military?
I can’t get over how bloodthirsty and heartless many of you seem to be…it wouldn’t surprise me if you call yourselves “christian” as well. That would make you bloodthirsty, heartless AND hypocrites.
How many more kids have to be maimed or killed fighting in a war that was unjustified and unnecessary until you are satisfied? If Matthis Chiroux were forced to go to Iraq and was blown to bits by an IED would you be happy? Would you finally have had your fill of this orgy of death and dismemberment?
You say he didn’t hold up his end of the agreement? I’ve got news for you—the U.S. has not held up it’s end, either. Not by a long shot. Ask anyone who has returned from Iraq with brain trauma or missing limbs only to find themselves drowning in red tape at the V.A. Or soldiers with PTSD who are being deliberately misdiagnosed so that the government does not have to pay the higher benefits that those soldiers deserve.
Not to mention the commander-in-chief and his cohorts who have blocked or denied wage increases and benefits while demanding more and more sacrifice from these young men and women—callously using and debasing these young people to the point where soldier suicide has become almost epidemic!
If you ask me, the contract was broken a long time ago, and NOT by any soldier.
The same folks that are so quick to judge and hurl insults at this brave young American soldier always seem to lose their voice when it is their own government who is clearly at fault. It’s so much easier to cower behind your false patriotism and denounce someone with courage enough to take a stand.
I salute you for your service and bravery, Matthias Chiroux. I am glad that you are back home safe and sound. Enjoy a long, prosperous and healthy life—you’ve earned it.
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