I grew up in the midwest in a family that had voted Republican back to Lincoln and whose men had served in every major conflict since the Revolution. Military service was always an honorable calling in my family, so after high school (prodded on by no job skills or money for college) I joined the Navy. I served six years on active duty, left to start a family, went to college, and eventually became an high school English teacher. In 1994 I joined the Army Reserve to supplement my teaching salary, eventually switching to the Army National Guard after moving to Massachusetts.

I've always been concerned about issues of social justice and peace, a commitment that has only deepened over the years. I believed for a long time that there wasn't a conflict between my beliefs and my military service, and I still believe that a person can be principled and serve in the military (who would want a military filled with unprincipled people?). However, the past six years, and especially my tour in Kuwait and Iraq, has made it impossible for me to continue in uniform.