'Just World News' with Helena Cobban: Support a prisoner of conscience

'Just World News' with Helena Cobban Info, analysis, discussion-- to build a more just world
« Warning: U.S.-sponsored regime change can leaving you drowning in [excrement] \| JWN front page \| King Abdullah (!) on prospects for Iraqi elections » Support a prisoner of conscience Posted by Helena Cobban September 27, 2004 12:02 PM EST \| Link Filed in Human rights I got the following letter recently from my friend Chuck Fager, of Quaker House in Fayetteville, NC. I hope some JWN readers may be moved to join me in sending a letter? I should imagine that if these letters are heartfelt and supportive, they would be helpful either with or without the mentioned scriptural reflections. Dear Friends, Can you do me a big favor? It won't take long. Here's the request: Take a few minutes and write a letter to an imprisoned GI conscientious objector... Last year, many of you responded to a similar call, and Marine resister Stephen Funk received over a thousand cards, notes and letters, to help keep up his morale while he served six months in the brig at Camp Lejeune. This was a tremendous service to him -- and a shock to the prison officials who thought they had a war resister isolated and forgotten. That was great Friendly work. Now I'm asking that you take up your pen again, for David Bunt, an army private who was sent to the same Camp Lejeune brig on September 22, 2004. David Bunt is a churchgoing family man; he and his wife Peggy have three sons; Gabriel, the youngest, is ten months. As you might imagine, Peggy could use some encouragement too. Like many others, David joined the army after 9/11 to "serve his country" and fight terror. It was during a tour in Afghanistan that he realized he couldn?t pull the trigger to kill another human. He wrote Quaker House from there for help in preparing a CO claim. We've done our best, but every step has been an uphill struggle. David filed his CO claim last year, endured a brutal, unfair hearing and months of uncertainty, only to have his claim rejected. What does a pacifist who is stuck in the army do then? Especially one with a family of four depending on him? David tried to persuade the army that holding on to him is a waste of taxpayers? money, and they should discharge him. That's what he hoped for. But it's been one depressing, exhausting hassle after another since then, with Quaker House behind him all the way. Instead of a discharge, earlier this week I watched David face a court martial at Ft. Bragg. He was charged with two military felonies: malingering (i.e., faking illness to avoid duty) and "missing movement" (i.e., not getting on a plane to Iraq), and a lesser charge, missing a parachute jump. The charges could have meant jail for several years. Fortunately, David had a skilled JAG lawyer, and the Army had no real evidence, so the felony charges didn't stick. He did plead guilty to missing the jump, because he had. For this he got a jail sentence of 45 days, to be served in the brig at Camp Lejeune. Well, it could have been worse. Yet as anyone who's stared at jail cell walls knows, tedium, isolation and depression are the everyday hazards of life on the inside, and forty-five days of it is more than enough. On the outside, Peggy is feeling overwhelmed too. Which is where you and I come in. The Lejeune brig permits visitors only on weekends and holidays, for a few hours. I'll be visiting David whenever possible -- and anyone else who can make a trip there will be very welcome. But for the long days in between visits, I'm turning to you for help: Will you write David and/or Peggy a letter, or a card, bearing a message of encouragement and support? It won't take long. (David is very interested in Bible study, and scripture reflections are particularly welcome.) And while you're at it, consider adding another note to his wife Peggy, who is also active in their Baptist church. Here's where to send the letters: David Bunt Bldg 1042 PSC 20140 Camp Lejeune NC 28542 For Peggy: Peggy Bunt c/o Quaker House 223 Hillside Avenue Fayetteville NC 28301 Thanks for taking time to make this gesture of support; it is a genuine ministry. And if you feel so moved, please pass this message along to others. David will be in the brig until the end of October, so there?s time for others to join in. Peace, Chuck Fager Matthew 25:36: "For I was in prison, and you came to me.? Chuck Fager, Director Quaker House, Fayetteville NC 910-323-3912 chuckfager@aol.com www.quakerhouse.org « Warning: U.S.-sponsored regime change can leaving you drowning in [excrement] \| JWN front page \| King Abdullah (!) on prospects for Iraqi elections » Comments Comment from... 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Support a prisoner of conscience

Posted by Helena Cobban
September 27, 2004 12:02 PM EST | Link
Filed in Human rights

I got the following letter recently from my friend Chuck Fager, of Quaker House in Fayetteville, NC. I hope some JWN readers may be moved to join me in sending a letter? I should imagine that if these letters are heartfelt and supportive, they would be helpful either with or without the mentioned scriptural reflections.

Dear Friends,

Can you do me a big favor? It won't take long.

Here's the request:

Take a few minutes and write a letter to an imprisoned GI conscientious objector...

Last year, many of you responded to a similar call, and Marine resister Stephen Funk received over a thousand cards, notes and letters, to help keep up his morale while he served six months in the brig at Camp Lejeune. This was a tremendous service to him -- and a shock to the prison officials who thought they had a war resister isolated and forgotten.

That was great Friendly work. Now I'm asking that you take up your pen again, for David Bunt, an army private who was sent to the same Camp Lejeune brig on September 22, 2004.

David Bunt is a churchgoing family man; he and his wife Peggy have three sons; Gabriel, the youngest, is ten months. As you might imagine, Peggy could use some encouragement too.

Like many others, David joined the army after 9/11 to "serve his country" and fight terror. It was during a tour in Afghanistan that he realized he couldn?t pull the trigger to kill another human. He wrote Quaker House from there for help in preparing a CO claim.

We've done our best, but every step has been an uphill struggle. David filed his CO claim last year, endured a brutal, unfair hearing and months of uncertainty, only to have his claim rejected.

What does a pacifist who is stuck in the army do then? Especially one with a family of four depending on him? David tried to persuade the army that holding on to him is a waste of taxpayers? money, and they should discharge him.

That's what he hoped for. But it's been one depressing, exhausting hassle after another since then, with Quaker House behind him all the way.

Instead of a discharge, earlier this week I watched David face a court martial at Ft. Bragg. He was charged with two military felonies: malingering (i.e., faking illness to avoid duty) and "missing movement" (i.e., not getting on a plane to Iraq), and a lesser charge, missing a parachute jump.

The charges could have meant jail for several years. Fortunately, David had a skilled JAG lawyer, and the Army had no real evidence, so the felony charges didn't stick. He did plead guilty to missing the jump, because he had. For this he got a jail sentence of 45 days, to be served in the brig at Camp Lejeune.

Well, it could have been worse. Yet as anyone who's stared at jail cell walls knows, tedium, isolation and depression are the everyday hazards of life on the inside, and forty-five days of it is more than enough. On the outside, Peggy is feeling overwhelmed too.

Which is where you and I come in. The Lejeune brig permits visitors only on weekends and holidays, for a few hours. I'll be visiting David whenever possible -- and anyone else who can make a trip there will be very welcome. But for the long days in between visits, I'm turning to you for help:

Will you write David and/or Peggy a letter, or a card, bearing a message of encouragement and support? It won't take long. (David is very interested in Bible study, and scripture reflections are particularly welcome.) And while you're at it, consider adding another note to his wife Peggy, who is also active in their Baptist church.

Here's where to send the letters:

David Bunt
Bldg 1042 PSC 20140
Camp Lejeune NC 28542

For Peggy:

Peggy Bunt c/o Quaker House
223 Hillside Avenue
Fayetteville NC 28301

Thanks for taking time to make this gesture of support; it is a genuine ministry. And if you feel so moved, please pass this message along to others. David will be in the brig until the end of October, so there?s time for others to join in.

Peace,

Chuck Fager

Matthew 25:36: "For I was in prison, and you came to me.?

Chuck Fager, Director
Quaker House, Fayetteville NC
910-323-3912
chuckfager@aol.com
www.quakerhouse.org

Comments

Comment from... Levitra, at October 20, 2004 05:46 AM:

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