Watada discharged - Hawaii News

The Army grants the officer's resignation under "other than honorable conditions" By Gregg K. Kakesako POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 26, 2009 Return to Paginated View First Lt.

[You Got To Be Kidding]

a Hero. I don't think so.

[enufalready]

Watada deserves our admiration and praise for having the guts to stand up to the military machine for its illegal and inhumane war in Iraq. The haters will be salivating as they sharpen their knives in preparation for savaging this young patriot whose moral stand they cannot tolerate. Tragic that so few have the courage to fight the violence and corruption that are so damaging our country's soul even as the people of Iraq are maimed and killed by US soldiers who are "only following orders."

[Get Real]

GUTS???? He is a COWARD!!!!!

[Proud to Serve]

Coward.

[weetoots]

This man is no hero, no patriot and does not deserve anyone's admiration. He signed a contract to the United States and when it didn't suit him, he wanted out. He's is a coward and is no different than a deserter or the cowards that fled to Canada in the 60's and 70's.
I wish him no ill feelings, just saying what I think of him.

[World Hero]

Our war in Iraq killed thousands of innocent women and children and brought nothing but misery to a whole generation of Iraqis. And for what?

I'm not afraid to die for what I believe in. Iraq was a war that took the lives of thousands of US soldiers. And what did they die for?

Mr. Watada called our President out and showed courage to disobey his orders to go and fight in a war he believe in. Millions of people around the protested this war. In the eyes of all those who believe something needed to be done to stop the war in Iraq, Mr. Watada is a Hero!!!

[Dolfinvet]

It was all political.
If it was a different administration he would be all for it. Sad. As Janeane Garofalo would say, it was "cool" to go to war under Clinton. Yeah right.

Inhuman war? What about all the civilian suffering under the Saddam regime? The biological and chemical gassing of his own people. Long live Hitler? I am glad that we saved them and I am proud of all the military efforts that was involved in the operation.

[Stumpy]

World Hero wrote:

Our war in Iraq killed thousands of innocent women and children and brought nothing but misery to a whole generation of Iraqis. And for what?
I'm not afraid to die for what I believe in. Iraq was a war that took the lives of thousands of US soldiers. And what did they die for?
Mr. Watada called our President out and showed courage to disobey his orders to go and fight in a war he believe in. Millions of people around the protested this war. In the eyes of all those who believe something needed to be done to stop the war in Iraq, Mr. Watada is a Hero!!!

Could you re-write this in Japanese or German? Because if people like you were around in 1941, we'd wouldn't be reading this in English.

[go4it]

Good 4 nothing Coward hope some PVT kicks his ass on the streets of Oahu.

[satch7]

He is nothing but a 'Punk" and a 'Coward" and shouldn't even be given the time and day and all these liberals that tend to treat him as some sort of hero are misguided in their ideals such that its an embarrassment for the State and, much as his family will deny it, an embarrassment and shame for the family, also.

I have nothing but disdain for such a cowardly individual who tried to hide beyond the Constitution and, I hope, he is treated as such as all the veterans and current soldiers deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, should spit on him as their motivation to survive when they return from their deployment.

[satch7]

enufalready wrote:

Watada deserves our admiration and praise for having the guts to stand up to the military machine for its illegal and inhumane war in Iraq. The haters will be salivating as they sharpen their knives in preparation for savaging this young patriot whose moral stand they cannot tolerate. Tragic that so few have the courage to fight the violence and corruption that are so damaging our country's soul even as the people of Iraq are maimed and killed by US soldiers who are "only following orders."

This has nothing to do with his ideals of standing up for what's right as the statement he made when he first came home and held a press conference at the Church of the Crossroads, he remarked that when things got touch while attending Punahou High School, he transferred to Kalani H.S. so he didn't have the stress and this is reflected in his stance in the Army by refusing to go to Iraq or the Mideast he took the easy way out....nothing about ideals etc....he was a LIAR & COWARD and people that admired him for his actions are ignorant and couldn't see through his words and actions including members of his family esp. his father who have to live through this shame and ignominy he has brought upon them.

[Faith]

Many of the postings here reflect what is wrong with our country: unthinking, uncritical people who spout ideology as though it is their own. Ehren Watada exemplifies the independent-thinking U.S. American that questions and acts on his conscience. He is a hero because he dared to say No.

[Dave]

From what we have read, this runs in his family. The military was just fine when he wanted a education. Then when he had to hold up his end of the deal, he backs out. That is no hero.
He joined after the war started, so what's beef?
I hope he can look himself in the mirror every day and live with it, because if he thinks he had a hard time in school, wait until he gets out in real life.

[tooky]

So I guess since he is leaving on President Obama's watch, he must think that Obama is wrong to require him to fulfill his duties as he thinks Bush was. He is a man child, nothing more or less.

[Veteran]

What a loser boy! He raised his right hand, understood the oath that he was to upkeep. Obey the orders of superiors appointed above him. Hmm a hero. He would have been a hero if he chickened out before he took the oath. He joined for a free ride. Don't call him a hero.

[Call me MISTER]

Its a sad event because he has shamed an entire generation of his people as well as the state. He and his family forgot and obviously didnt care what sacrifices were made by the 100th & 442nd. He could have served with honor first, then if he felt so strongly that the war was wrong, gotten out and then pursued the injustices politically. Life isnt fair, but you always have to remember your ancestors and what sacrifices they made for you. The men of the 100th/442 fought with that go for broke attitude even while many of their families were interned and stripped of everything they had....they fought for this country even though this wasnt right either.

[Proud Hawaiian Retiree]

Thanks for embarrassing Hawaii and all its local veterans!

[Yes We Cant]

A total coward and a disgrace to everyone who wears the uniform, he is a traitor and should of been tried again. It is not a matter weather you agree with war, it is an oath. He has no honor. He should put a knife in his belly.

[Honomu Keiki]

A discharge under "less than honorable conditions" is viewed as a victory by Watada's supporters? I am glad that this "man" can never have the honor of leading troops of the U.S. Army or consider himself a veteran.

[Local fisherman]

He abandoned his fellow soldiers when they needed him the most. Doesn't matter what he thought about the ethics of the war. When he signed up for the military, he gave up the option to quit in the face of personal peril.

Watada should move to Alaska. Then he can hang out with Sarah Palin. Another quitter.