And the most intelligent: .......FORT HOOD, Texas - A soldier who admitted fleeing from the Army rather than deploying to Iraq for a second time was sentenced Thursday to seven months in a military prison and given a bad conduct discharge.
Spc. Mark Wilkerson, who pleaded guilty to desertion and missing troop movement earlier Thursday as part of a plea deal, could have been incarcerated for up to 10 months.
Wilkerson, 23, surrendered at Fort Hood in August — about a year and a half after failing to return from an approved two-week leave — saying he was tired of running and wanted to move forward with his life.
"I quit the Army, I quit my unit, and I did not show up when I needed to," Wilkerson told the judge during his sentencing hearing.
Prosecutor Capt. Derek Leo had asked the judge to send Wilkerson to prison and then release him with a dishonorable discharge.
"He simply abandoned his Army family but it was the correct thing to do. The war is wrong.
2007-02-22 08:36:41 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Yes! I would hire this man. He has honor!!
2007-02-22 08:37:26 · update #1
He has honor, courage and respects his fellow living human beings. Remember most army recruits come from working class areas of America and have no idea what they are letting themselves in for.
2007-02-22 08:40:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The only honor he has is in finally turning himself in. He swore an oath to the military, before God & Country, and broke his word. Honor means fulfilling your obligations even when doing so is inconvenient. And in this case, the obligations were completely voluntary.
You can disagree with this war on a personal level, but on a professional level, you must follow regulations and you must fulfill your promises. Soldiers have been separating personal & professional lives for years. Wilkerson was no different. He will now have a felony conviction that will follow him the rest of his life. If he was drafted, I'd be more sympathetic. But as a volunteer, he's completely & solely responsible for any consequences that come his way.
DD '73
2007-02-22 11:38:29 · answer #2 · answered by Devil Dog '73 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is a coward and should have been shot on site...let's see that "Honorable" man get a job when he gets out of Leavenworth...I think the guards will have a good time with him...you can thank him when you're driving on the little rocks he made out of big rocks on your local highway...a Army JAG officer would have never said what you claim...he would have been Court Marshaled too...get a grip...Cowardice can not be rewarded or looked favorably upon...
2007-02-22 08:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This guy DESERTED on his word, his contract that he signed, and ultimately on his unit which was worst of all. Military members count on one another, and by deserting, that unit had to pick up his slack. How many times must we say.. the military is VOLUNTARY, don't join if you don't want to get put in dangerous situations. This guy should have been given more jail time, and I hope his life is ruined for his lack of character, honor, and ability to see through tough decisions of his OWN making.
2007-02-22 09:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by John B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No honorable man would run out on his commitments, like this young fool did. That's not honor, that's simply cowardice. He let his fright for his own skin guide him.
Of course, seeing as you are a serial liar and a boor, you would think him honorable.
I hope he has a great time in Leavenworth. It's too bad you can't join him.
2007-02-22 08:54:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Too bad the Court Martial didn't deal with this waste of DNA the way they did during the World Wars. He should be shot like the dog he is.
2007-02-22 08:47:43 · answer #6 · answered by Rick N 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He should have demanded to get the same penalty that George Bush got for Deserting!
An Honorable discharge!!!!!!!!!
Better yet we should have shot the Ba$tard Bush for Deserting and we could have saved the world and America a hell of a lot of headache and grief!
And if you think that Bush did not desert - you are totally uninformed or misinformed!
Lo Siento!
2007-02-22 08:44:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it's wasn't honorable. Have you ever heard the word turncoat??? Or chicken gut??? Or coward????They should have given him 20 years hard labor. Chicken s**t.
From: A 25 year Marine Vet....
2007-02-22 08:44:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honor? In what sense? The fact that he signed up voluntary to fight, knowing what he's getting into and later quit? Should be charged for treason and shot.
2007-02-22 11:07:48 · answer #9 · answered by Gaz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey you know what? If you are not in the United States and YOU want this guy, then take him. He doesn't belong here in my opinion anyway.
PS you have not clue one what honor is.
2007-02-22 08:48:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋