I was among the crowd in Coupeville the day Lt. Watada spoke to us regarding his refusal to obey orders for his to ship out to Iraq. I was also among the very few that did not applaud his actions. I believe that his latter day convictions were too late. We have an all volunteer Army; simply put, if you won’t want to fight in Iraq, don’t volunteer.

Lt. Watada took his training, was commissioned, and only when he received orders to ship out did he say no. He had months to decide that he did not want to fight. For an officer to refuse to deploy is an act of cowardice. Had he been a private or corporal, the matter might be less serious. But he was an officer. He will be court martialed and imprisoned.

I believe that the support Lt. Watada received is an action rooted in objection to the war. With the president having only a 30 percent approval rating, clearly the country is largely opposed to him and the war. But this will have no bearing on the officers sitting on Lt. Watada’s court martial.

Fred W. Terrell

Captain, USN (Retired)

Coupeville