Posted on 12/07/2004 9:07:02 AM PST by pabianice
SAN DIEGO NAVAL STATION, Calif. As his ship spun into San Diego Bay on Dec. 6 to begin a deployment, Fire Controlman 3rd Class Pablo Paredes turned his back and walked through the pier gates as a crowd of families yelled coward! and traitor! The assault ship Bonhomme Richard would leave on this deployment without Paredes, a 23-year-old who refused to board the ship with the rest of the ships crew.
Im sad that anyone is on there, he said, taking a glance shortly after the ship blew its horns and pulled from its berth.
Paredes had tried unsuccessfully to turn over his military identification card to Navy officials on the pier. While hundreds of relatives bade farewell to their sailors and Marines deploying on the ship, which is leading the 6,000-member Expeditionary Strike Group 5, Paredes waited on the pier for the ships departure and to see if he would be arrested.
Paredes, a former member of the now-decommissioned destroyer OBrien, did not step onto Bonhomme Richard, where he would have had to report for a 7 a.m. roll call. He sported a scruffy moustache and beard and did not wear his uniform. Instead, he donned a black T-shirt, with the phrase Like a Cabinet Member on the front and I Resign on the back.
I feel a lot of sadness, he said, glancing up at the ship, with black-clad sailors and Marines in khaki uniforms standing along the rails. Its not against them individually, he explained. What they do is amazing. Somebody has to go risk their lives for their country, and they do it.
But this time, contends Parades, himself a veteran of a Western Pacific deployment, the risk isnt worth it. He believes the military is being misled in the war in Iraq, and he blames the Bush administration. Troops are not told what exactly is the reason behind it, he said. I think oil is pretty much the reason.
Paredes, the son of Ecuadorean immigrants, has done 4½ years of a six-year enlistment. When he reported to Bonhomme Richard in mid-November, he said, he learned that he would be deploying overseas, and likely on course to take the embarked Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, to the Persian Gulf. That prospect bothered him. My immediate reaction was that no way was I going to (deploy), he said. I dont believe in the war at all.
After a few hours talking with reporters and fending off unsupportive comments, he left. Navy spokesmen said they dont yet know what charges, if any, he may face.
Maybe he should board a bus to Canada.
This gutless, cowardly scumbag should be rotting in jail.
This POS belongs in Leavenworth. Period.
Mmmmm. Deep Kimchi. Arrrrrllgh....
For the love of God if you are not prepared to do your duty dont join the military
this is another guy that probably felt he could get a free meal ticket or something
(1) fails to go to his appointed place of duty at the time prescribed;
(2) goes from that place; or
(3) absents himself or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty at which he is required to be at the time prescribed;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
887. ART. 87. MISSING MOVEMENT
Any person subject to this chapter who through neglect or design misses the movement of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which he is required in the course of duty to move shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
No Jail..but the brig will be open. Isn't this part of
the liberal mindset...take Government goodies, like some
sort of military duty in the tropics..but, horror, take
part in a war that is the defense of our liberties???
This is result of the past 30-40 years of soft soaping
by the media...NYTimes, daily bashing Bush,etc. and
look closely..this guy is a NoooooYorrrker...Jake
He also said on the news last nite that most troops don't believe in what they're doing. POS.
I've no experience in UCMJ construction, but I have to ask, shouldn't that say "shall" direct?
And there's a poll to be FReeped here
The Navy doesn't use the term AWOL; Pablo is UA: Unauthorized Absence. After 30 days his status will change to deserter.
No. What it boils down to is, he could face a Courts Martial, OR he could also face NJP (non-judicial punishment)... it just depends on various factors...
Michael Moore said it, so it must be true/sarcasm off
If this guy pulled a stunt like this in combat during WWII, he would likely have been shot for disobeying orders.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.