A Man of Integrity: Sgt. Kevin Benderman - "No To War"

By: Jack Dalton

One can only imagine the struggle, the agonizing process Sgt Kevin Benderman has gone through which culminated in his decision to refuse orders for deployment to Iraq a little over a week ago - which would have been his second deployment. Having spoken with Kevin and his wife Monica multiple times, I have a real good idea of the internal struggle they went through over an extended period of time. What I came away with from some of our conversations is the simple fact Kevin's decision was not a snap decision, but was very carefully though out - good, bad and everything in - between, all was weighed, carefully and deeply.

One of the issues Kevin had to deal with was: walking away from those with whom he had been to war once with and holding true to his convictions of the complete and utter futility of war; Or, violating those convictions and returning to Iraq to participate in that which he, as one who has seen war up close and personal, now turns his back on. I understand this conflict Kevin had to face.

Having been to war-Vietnam, 1965, 66, 67 - I know and understand the bonds which are created among those who are sent into war. I understand the sense of loyalty to your comrades in arms which gives birth to those bonds. They are bonds among "warriors" that are deep, mostly beyond words, and in a lot of instances, last a lifetime. They are bonds that grow out of mutual need - the need to survive the madness and inhumanity that is war. Hopes, dreams, fears, all is shared among those at war, and usually at a level that happens not with anyone else, including relatives.

This is some of what Kevin had to internally contend with during his decision making process, and process it surely was; not an enviable position to find ones self in. To his great credit Kevin chose integrity, he chose to hold true to his convictions of the wrongness of war.

Kevin, as did so many of us who went to Vietnam, came back from war changed. No longer was war an abstract concept as it is for the most part in this nation. When one goes to war, sees it up close, hears it, smells it, tastes it, nothing is ever the same again. War is no longer the abstract concept to be discussed among family at the dinner table or with friends; war now has a face and it is ugly to look at. And it must be resisted and stood against.

Kevin Benderman has made the decision to stand against death, destruction, inhumanity; in short, he has chosen to stand against war. One can only hope that others will come to know and realize that to stop war, one need only refuse to be a participant. And yes, it is that simple. Here is the link to Kevin’s statement as to how and why he came to his decision. (http://www.oldamericancentury.org/voices_006.htm)

All the war lovers (Bush and company) and all the war-profiteers (like Halliburton and Bechtel) would be up a creek without a paddle, if one day they looked around to see everyone just put down their guns and stop participating in their war schemes.

In this decision to apply for Conscientious Objector status and to walk away from war, I support Kevin and Monica Benderman totally. This old Nam vet considers Kevin Benderman a man of ethics, integrity and honor and feels it is one of life's great pleasures to be able to call and be called by Kevin and Monica, "friend."

Jack Dalton is a disabled Vietnam veteran, writer, and co-editor of The Project for the Old American Century web publication and may be reached at http://oldamericancentury.org/index.htm

Posted by rowan at January 17, 2005 1:01 PM | TrackBack | [eMail this article!] |