Mark Wilkerson (conscientious objector)

For the musician, see Mark Wilkerson.

Army Spc. Mark Wilkerson (born 1984 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA) was in Iraq as an American soldier and Iraq war objector.

Wilkerson enlisted in the US Army in the summer of his junior year of high school, before the September 11 attacks, through a delayed entry program. He served in a military police battalion and was deployed to Iraq. But after returning from his first deployment he came up with the conclusion that the American armed forces were not there for the reasons stated. He felt no longer able to serve the military in any aspect. After his first tour in Iraq Wilkerson had filed for conscientious objector status but was denied. He appealed but would not be heard until returning from a second tour in Iraq what he found unacceptable.

In consequence Wilkerson did not return to his unit after a two-weeks off period. 2005 he went absence without leave (AWOL) for 19 months and then 2006 turned himself in to his unit. He was not confined behind bars by his superiors. With support of Cindy Sheehan's group he returned to Fort Hood to face the military proceedings. Wilkerson was sentenced to seven months in military prison with a Bad Conduct Discharge with an Article 85 (desertion) and an Article 87 (missing movement). He was released from prison July 13, 2007.

Wilkerson is now living with his wife in his hometown Colorado Springs.

External links

• Soldier of Morality: Spc. Mark Wilkerson learns that it's a lot easier to get in the Army than it is to get out" Article written after he had returned to his unit but before his trial, Austin Chronicle News Story, September 8, 2006
• AWOL soldier gets 7 months, bad conduct discharge Austin News February 22, 2007: The Associated Press contributed to this report
• Soldier who deserted before Iraq gets 7 months www.chron.com, Houston Chronicle, February 23, 2007
• Standing for a Soldier's Right to Conscience - Mark Wilkerson's Call to America by Susan van Haitsma counterpunch.org, February 28, 2007
• Red, White & Blurry: My Life As An AWOL Soldier - The story of Mark Wilkerson Mark Wilkerson Sentenced to 7 Months, April 5, 2007
• Broken Toy Soldiers, poem by Mark Wilkerson THE VETERAN, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Spring 2008 (Volume 38, Number 1)
• Mark Wilkerson at Marc Piscotty Photography Stock Imagery - SHOT 10/18/2007

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Name	Wilkerson, Mark
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Date of birth	1984
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