Sheehan Helps AWOL Soldier To Return

Army Specialist Mark Wilkerson was sent to Iraq in 2003. He served there for a year before his unit returned to the United States. While in Iraq, Wilkerson's views on war changed radically. When he returned, he applied for conscientious objector status. It was denied, and he learned his unit would be sent back to Iraq. Wilkerson appealed, but was told the appeal would not be heard until he returned from Iraq. Shortly before his unit was to leave for Iraq, Wilkerson went AWOL. He has been missing for over a year and a half.

Thursday, with the help of Cindy Sheehan and her group of war protesters, Wilkerson turned himself in to military authorities at Fort Hood. Wilkerson told the media, "I just could not in good conscience go back to a war I felt was wrong." He said he came to Sheehan for help because he heard she was willing to help war protesters. Her group has recently been passing out brochures detailing soldiers rights in front of the main gate at Fort Hood. Sheehan said, "It's amazingly scary to do what he's doing. He has all of our support, but when he gets to Fort Hood, he's going to be by himself."

I applaud the courage of Mark Wilkerson. He not only served his country bravely in a war, but he took a stand against the war, once he saw the truth of what is happening in Iraq. Now he faces his toughest ordeal - dealing with the United States Government. I hope they're not too hard on him. After all, we shouldn't have ever been in this war in the first place. I also applaud Cindy Sheehan's actions in the face of angry attcks on her from the right-wing.

Sheehan and Wilkerson are both American heroes.