Posted at 10:34 a.m., Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Army files three charges against Honolulu soldier
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The charges are missing a movement, contempt toward officials, and conduct unbecoming an officer, according to Watada's command at Fort Lewis, Wash.
The next step is an Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding.
The Army said the maximum imprisonment for missing a movement is two years, one year for contempt toward officials, and possibly a year for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Last week, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada refused to obey a direct order to deploy with his unit to Iraq. Instead, the 28-year-old soldier and Kalani High graduate stayed on base in his battalion's headquarters while members of his unit left by bus at 6:45 a.m., en route to their flight from nearby McChord Air Force Base, the Army said.
About 4,000 soldiers of Fort Lewis' 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division were scheduled to be part of the current deployment to Iraq.
Watada announced last month that he intended to disobey orders to deploy because he had concluded the Iraq war is immoral and illegal.
