Unit that refused Iraq mission comes home

[Rose Siding]

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Army Reserve company that drew attention when some of its soldiers refused a mission to transport fuel along a dangerous road in Iraq has returned home, with members honoring the officer who led the unit through the controversy.

The 343rd Quartermaster Company came back to the Rock Hill Memorial Army Reserve Center on Friday, and returning soldiers presented the unit's flag to the company commander, Capt. Victor Baez-an. He took charge after some members of the unit balked at the Oct. 13 mission, saying their vehicles were in poor condition and did not have armor.

"He pretty much came in and wiped the slate clean," Sgt. Anthony Amo said. "He put pride back into this unit. He made us all keep our heads up high, no matter what people said about us. He made us proud to serve our country."
...
"Everybody came out of this, and we came out of it together," Baez-an told the troops Friday. "Don't let Oct. 13 define you guys. You define yourself."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/02/26/unit_that_refused_iraq_mission_comes_home/

[PassingFair]

1. These are the REAL heros of our times...

Men and women of conscience. Soldiers that THINK. Mindless, order following troops are what give rise to Hitler-like abuses. I hope for the day when human evolution reaches a point where we do right for right's sake. Not because everyone else tells us, or ORDERS us to. Not for financial or "after-life" gains.
These soldiers deserve a medal for their realistic attitudes and common sense.

[Retired AF Dem]

2. Conscience had nothing to do with it

they had issues about their vehicles.

[Rose Siding]

3. Not wanting yourself or your buddies to get killed

for contaminated fuel does have some to do with conscience. They bucked bad orders and I'd say they made the right decision.

[ninkasi]

4. I think they made the right decision, too.

Maybe some of the men and women who participated in the torture at Abu Ghraib and some of the other prisons, would not now have to live with the consequences of their behavior. Just maybe, all of us who are citizens of this country should draw the line at crossing boundaries which we know to be immoral.

The men and women who refused this assignment might have been putting their fellow soldiers, and their families back home, before following an idiotic order issued by an idiotic officer somewhere in the chain of command.