Skip to main content

ATTENTION: This site is no longer active but remains as an archive.

Iraq Veterans Against the War has become About Face: Veterans Against the War. About Face can be found at aboutfaceveterans.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Join IVAW

Donate to IVAW

  • About
    • Founding of IVAW
    • Mission, Values, and Vision
    • War in Afghanistan
    • Why We Are against the Wars
    • Resolutions
    • IVAW Timeline
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Committee
    • Staff
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Operation Recovery
    • Winter Soldier
      • Breakdown of the Military
      • Civilian Testimony
      • Corporate Pillaging
      • Cost of War at Home
      • Crisis in Veterans Healthcare
      • Future of GI Resistance
      • Gender and Sexuality
      • Legacy of GI Resistance
      • Racism and War
      • Response to DoD
      • Rules of Engagement
      • Press Coverage
      • Press Releases
    • Right to Heal
  • Members
  • Resources
    • AWOL
    • Active Duty
    • Conscientious Objector
    • Depleted Uranium
    • History of Resistance
    • IRR Reactivation
    • Lariam
    • PTSD
    • Profiles of Resisters
    • Resources for Veterans
    • Stop Loss
    • Women's Resources
    • Mesothelioma
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Press
    • Speaker Request

Primary tabs

  • View(active tab)
  • Contact

Derek Hess

I left the army in protest, because like most Iraq-era veterans, I believed and still believe that this is an illegal, lying, and immoral war. Forget why I joined! I took an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies both foreign and domestic. The illegal and unjust occupation of Iraq goes against the U.S. constitution as it violates the law that All men are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as our occupation is only hindering the Iraqis from choosing their own destiny, and our presence in Iraq is detrimental because it contributes to the wholesale slaughter and oppression of the middle eastern nation. In refusing to fight, I am refusing participation in an illegal lying war that was started to keep rich people rich and fill money in certain people's pockets. I filed for conscientious objector status in January of 2007. The papers were appealed until I told my unit that I would kill myself if I was sent to Iraq, so I could not be used as a weapon of mass destruction for the U.S. government. I can speak from personal experience when I say that the Iraq war is nothing but a bloodbath. Also it is an assault on humanity as more soldiers are forced to give their lives in a war not for freedom but, for profit. This war has caused many innocent American boys and girls (17-20) to be put to death, though they did nothing to deserve such a punishment. The Iraqi civilians are caught up in the middle of a massacre we created, and they are killed being unarmed and in non-combatant status just because of the U.S. occupation and oppressive regime in Iraq that has contributed to the ultimate extortion of these people. I refused to fight in a war started by men who refused to fight in a war. By refusing to fight this war, I am upholding the constitution by refusing to participate in actions that would sentence me to a court martial for war crimes. And I believe it is my choice as a human being to deny my participation in the slaughter of innocent human beings. In closing with my own quote I say "Supporting the troops does not mean supporting the war, it means actually listening to what we have to say, instead of discrediting us, it means ending this illegal war, and letting us go home, because that is really just all we want." THE NATION THAT FORGETS IT'S DEFENDERS WILL ITSELF BE FORGOTTEN

Derek Hess's Posts

This member has not made any public posts yet.
Derek Hess's picture

Branch of Service:

United States Army

Donations

Make a single donation or become an IVAW sustainer by making your donation a recurring one. Please consider making your generous gift right now.
Donate Online Today!

Speaker Request

Please be advised that we get many speaker requests, but regret that we are sometimes unable to fill them.
Speaker Request

Joining IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001.
Join IVAW

Navigation

  • About
  • Events
  • Campaigns
  • Committees
  • Chapters
  • Members
  • Resources
  • Contact