tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post111752867312504850..comments2024-03-02T06:44:49.136-10:00Comments on Far Outliers: Conscientious Objectors Who Earned Medals of HonorUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-43552913449796276912018-07-13T12:12:17.018-10:002018-07-13T12:12:17.018-10:00It appears that I was the 3rd CO during the Vietna...It appears that I was the 3rd CO during the Vietnam war. Upon arrival in Vietnam, Sept 1971, for my 2nd tour, on my 2nd enlistment in the U.S. Army as an Air Traffic controller with the 165th Aviation Group (Cbt), I submitted request to be discharged as a CO, 1-0 status, refusing 1AO status, and reassignment to medical dispensary. Requested was based on newly acquired religious convicts. After boards, and processing, Pentagon approved my discharged under Honorable Conditions because of service record, 08DEC1971, Oakland Army Terminal, Oakland, CA. My name at the time was William James Gunner, Spec 5, RA18977535Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17808163996374921413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-18630080088579622762017-08-18T11:10:45.834-10:002017-08-18T11:10:45.834-10:00Please correct the banner "Conscientious Obje...Please correct the banner "Conscientious Objecters Who Won Medals of Honor." The Medal of Honor is either "received" or a more correct phrase is "awarded". I realize no disrespect is intended, but to imply the Medal of Honor was won, sounds like it resulted from a lottery or game of chance. Most civilians would not see the distinction, but as a veteran, I would appreciate the correction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-90919170899265159762017-02-23T18:10:16.384-10:002017-02-23T18:10:16.384-10:00What about Sgt. York? What about Sgt. York? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-12763544603541288912016-01-10T13:37:42.826-10:002016-01-10T13:37:42.826-10:00Your father was and is a hero. I am sure you are j...Your father was and is a hero. I am sure you are justly proud of his service. Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05380675827277406222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-41218695022130650952015-08-14T20:53:13.086-10:002015-08-14T20:53:13.086-10:00There were two Conscientious Objector classificati...There were two Conscientious Objector classification during the Vietnam War. The first was CO which if awarded meant that you did not serve in the military but instead did civilian work for the federal government, like planting pine trees for two years somewhere. The second the C1-A-O, was a true Conscientious Objector status for someone who would not carry a weapon as they had the moral objection to kill. To get the CAO status you had to present your case in front of a 3 member panel at your local draft board. You brought witness to attest to your convictions (like your minister, teachers, work supervisors etc), and the board questioned them, literally for hours. You were then awarded the status or rejected for the status. If it was awarded you clearly stated that you felt it was your duty to serve your countrys military if asked but not carry a weapon or serve in a combatant status. Usually most CAO chose non-combatant positions like clerk, mechanics but often many chose medic as it fullfilled their needs to serve their fellow soldiers doing that which they could not morally do. When assigned to a unit in Vietnam, they had to report to the Commanding Officer and report their status and their intention to keep that status. Usually after the first combat action the CO would bring them in for an interview and ask them if they still wanted to remain a CAO or did they want to carry a weapon to defend themselves. Few if any decided to change their status and carry a person defense weapon only (m16 or a .45cal) but most didn't. Often times commanders hearing that their new medic (usually a replacement for a lost one) was a Conscientious Objector would do everything in their power to make the soldiers life as miserable as possible so as transfer the soldier to someone else or get the soldier to ask for a transfer. Often the medic wound up at the battalion aid station or the MASH. However most officers kept the medic, some felt they would die soon enough anyway and other felt they would be a good asset. I can testify to the truth of this narrative as I was a CAO medic in Vietnam who was tormented by my CO and transferred to a battalion aid to sit with the dying until I had a nervous breakdown of sorts.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-11609837465426745832014-06-03T02:26:10.253-10:002014-06-03T02:26:10.253-10:00A "Conscientious Objector" Who Won a Med...A "Conscientious Objector" Who Won a Medal of Honor?<br /><br />"His minister went with him to establish his status as a<br /> non-combatant. The officer in charge told him there was <br />no such thing, but that he could register as a conscientious<br />objector. Doss said he wasn’t a conscientious objector<br />because he would gladly serve his country, wear a uniform, <br />salute the flag, and help with the war effort. <br />He would gladly help tend sick or hurt people any day. <br />Finally he was convinced to accept the 1-A-O <br />Conscientious Objector classification, <br />so he could join the army without fear of court martial...."<br /><br />So he was NOT a Conscientious Objector.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231564.post-38275489535250045902014-03-02T16:46:31.250-10:002014-03-02T16:46:31.250-10:00http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_G._LaPointe,_J...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_G._LaPointe,_Jr.<br /><br />Please see the link above, there is a 3rd C/O to be awarded the Medal of Honor, he is my father.<br /><br />If this thread is dead, so be it. Thanks, Joe IIIAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02663087935764487748noreply@blogger.com