Did you hear the story about Charles Wright: A conscientious objector goes to war?

2015-10-12T10:53:43-04:00

Did you hear the story about Charles Wright: A conscientious objector goes to war?

Some will make bad comments on RP about this individual, but he served his time even though he didn't believe in the cause. Don't judge the individual, but judge his actions! Very intersting story RP Members?

http://www.stripes.com/military-life/military-history/charles-wright-a-conscientious-objector-goes-to-war-1.372850

“I prayed before I ever went to Vietnam. I prayed that I would come back whole, that I would have all my fingernails and toenails, and everything like that,” Wright said. “I told God in my prayer that I wanted to come back alive, and I wanted to be married and have a family.”

Wright, 68, now a pastor in Cedar Falls, didn’t only come back fully intact, he came home with some additional shrapnel in his body that still sits inside him today. He also got a wife — he’s been married for more than 40 years — two daughters, grandchildren, and a full life.

Charles Wright: A conscientious objector goes to war

Charles Wright never picked up a weapon in combat in Vietnam, and he never lost a man in his company. But perhaps the most impressive fact about Wright’s service is that, despite being injured, despite witnessing horrors, despite growing ever-immune to those tragedies, his time in war only strengthened his faith in God.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Oct 12 at 2015 11:08 AM

2015-10-12T11:08:35-04:00

I have to respect the man. He served his country even though he was a CO. God Bless him.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 12 at 2015 11:11 AM

2015-10-12T11:11:35-04:00

There is an expression that covers this situation well: "He has the courage of his convictions". It's a trait to which we should all aspire. Although I applaud his courage, I know others who don't. Let me tell you a story...

As Chief of Awards and Decorations for the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam it was my honor to present recommendations to a panel of officers who voted on the award. One was a recommendation for a Silver Star to be awarded to a medic who charged ahead of his beleaguered patrol to reach and cover a fallen point man with his own body then minister to his wounds after the enemy was driven off. I had to tear up ballots and resubmit the recommendation to successive panels because all disallowed or reduced the award to an ACM with "V" because this "hero" was a conscientious objector. He received the Silver Star only because I presented the recommendation directly to the commanding general with my unsupported recommendation.

You may condemn me for my action. My immediate superiors who wrote my Officer Efficiency Reports certainly did which is why my tenure in the Army was limited to five and a half years. However, I also won awards from senior officers who were happy that I got things done. Que sera sera...

Response by SGT Mark Stevens made Oct 12 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-10-12T11:29:56-04:00

It sounds to me like the man did his job and did it well.
He was a conscripted soldier, he told them up front his beliefs. He finished his training, performed his duties with honor and was given an opportunity to leave early. He finished his conscription and had to put up with the flack from other soldiers for not picking up a gun.
It seems to me if you were to hold him up to today's Army Values, he would be an example to aspire to for being true to himself and honest with the Army and those he worked with.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Oct 12 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-10-12T11:40:22-04:00

http://homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_doss.html

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 12 at 2015 12:14 PM

2015-10-12T12:14:44-04:00

Despite his CO, he did his duty. That is all anyone can expect, and far more than many in his position did. He was an honorable man.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 12 at 2015 12:21 PM

2015-10-12T12:21:56-04:00

I have a good friend who did the same, out of respect for our country...

Response by COL Ted Mc made Oct 12 at 2015 12:40 PM

2015-10-12T12:40:53-04:00

There is nothing "dishonorable" about any person who risks his own life to save the lives of others.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 12 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-10-12T13:04:45-04:00

As a young man I thought going to war was my duty as a Soldier. I thought it was where my father and grandfather went, so why can't I? I saw the medals, the combat patches and was in awe. I thought it was "glamorous" to say you went and did it. That lasted 14 years. I went and did everything I could to get into the fight thinking what I did, not listening to those who went before me, telling me that it's not what you think, and not what you'll do. Looking back at it, I wouldn't change a thing, but if I could tell my younger self something, or write a note to me, it'd say "it's not glamorous, not fun, it's going to change you in ways you have no clue about. You're going to spend time (a LOT of time) doing absolutely nothing with spurts of pure terror (those are very rare). You'll loose a lot of yourself, and gain a set of balls that you never used before like this. I'd say prepare to loose everything you knew and loved, and be ready to gain a lot more. And I'd tell myself stop looking for the damn patches...you got em. Now I'm older (not really wiser per se), but I don't want to go to war anymore. Seen it, been there, got the t-shirt. But I know in my heart that before I see some snot nosed 18yr old go, I'd suit up and be long gone before that kid ruins his youth. Great article Sir. Really hits in the gut.

Response by SSG Gary Johnson made Sep 8 at 2019 8:41 PM

2019-09-08T20:41:17-04:00

Our first Medic was a Surgical Tech. He lasted about 3 months before he was transferred to a Surgical Hospital. Our new Medic wa's a Conscientious Objector. He didn't carry any Firearm. After a couple of months, I asked him what he would do if we were overrun and he was with the wounded when the VC came to kill him and the wounded? Apparently he gave that much thought, as he soon after started carrying an M16. He said it was to protect his Patient''s lives.

Response by SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D made Nov 13 at 2023 6:56 PM

2023-11-13T18:56:04-05:00

It sounds to me like the man did his job and did it well. He was a believer and performed his duties with honor for God and the Country. My Respect