Stephen Funk
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| Stephen Funk | |
|---|---|
| Born June 15, 1982 | |
 Stephen Funk |
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| Place of birth | Seattle, WA |
| Service/branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2002-2003 |
| Rank | Private |
Stephen Funk (b. June 15, 1982, Seattle, WA) is a former United States Marine Corps Landing Support Specialist and lance corporal reservist. He is also the first person to refuse to deploy in Iraq.[1]
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[edit] Background
Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserves, Funk left USC in 2000 and traveled to the Philippines for 3 months. Upon his return, Funk moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in order to become a California resident and enroll at UC Berkley. After 9/11, Funk decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, signing a six-year contract in February 2002. 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 to serve at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA in February 2003, Funk did not report until 47 days after his "Report No Later Than" 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. Funk had attempted to obtain conscientious objector status and a discharge on these grounds. He was denied by a military court. At the same time he applied for conscientious objector status, Funk also came out publicly as a gay man. In 2003, while imprisoned, he was named as one of OUT Magazine's "Out 100".[3]
[edit] Military punishment
Of the two charges Funk was brought up on, a military jury acquitted him on September 6, 2003 of desertion, but convicted 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.
[edit] See also
- Conscientious Objector
- Nuremberg Principles (Principle IV)
[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.
