Boring army facts: Joined the army in 2005 out of Katy, TX a year after graduating high school to become a military police officer. After doing so, discovered an increasing personal moral dillema with handling fire arms and training for combat. Deployed to Baqubah, Iraq in 2006 out of Fort Lewis, WA as a gunner and during the course of that deployment filed and was granted 1-A-0 conscientious objector status and continued to serve as a non-combatant, completing that deployment in early 2008. Activities in service after becoming a CO were primarily adminstrative duties in a variety of positions. Was discharged in September 2010.
I discovered IVAW during a time when I was AWOL in 2009 through the coffee shop Coffee Strong. I did not become a member right away, but enjoyed spending time up at the shop, where I could exchange ideas with other veterans who I could relate to in a way I had never been able to before. I had gone through my time in the army feeling very much alone in my convictions, but IVAW showed me something different.
