Stephen Funk
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Stephen Funk (b. June 15, 1982, Seattle, WA) was a United States Marine Corps Landing Support Specialist and Lance Corporal reservist. He was also the first person to refuse service in Iraq.[1]
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[edit] Background
Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserves, Funk had dropped out of UCLA in 2001 and attempted to gain entrance to UC Berkeley but was rejected it was at this point he decided to enlist and in February 2002 signing six-year contract. Near the end of boot camp, he shot expert at the rifle range, at 200-, 300- and 500-yards despite this his instructor told him that he would not shoot as well in combat, Funk later said "I told him he was right, because I felt killing was wrong." When his unit was activated in February 2003 Funk did not report until 47 Days after his Report No Later Then Date at which time he held a press conference at the main gate of San Jose Marine reserve base and turned himself over to Military Authorities. During the conference Funk spoke to reporters and said "There is no way to justify war because you're paying with human lives." [2] just before being taken into custody.
[edit] Military punishment
Of the two charges Funk was brought up on, a military jury acquitted him on September 6, 2003 of desertion but did convict him of the lesser charge of unauthorized absence. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, reduction in rank from E-3 to E-1 and given a bad-conduct discharge. Funk had attempted to obtain conscientious objector status and a discharge on these grounds however he was denied by a military court. At the same time he applied for conscientious objector status Funk admitted to being homosexual [3]
[edit] Trivia
Stephen is named after his father's younger brother, Stephen Edward Funk, a 21-year-old Army corporal who was murdered in 1976. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ BBC News (2003). Rescued from Iraq. BBC Breakfast. Retrieved on 5 March 2007.
- ^ Podger, Pamela J. (2003). Marine obeys his conscience/Reservist didn't ship out with his unit to Iraq. Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors. Retrieved on 5 March 2007.
- ^ Reuters (2003). Anti-War U.S. Marine Sentenced to Six Months in Jail. Reuters. Retrieved on 5 March 2007.
