Stephen Funk

Infobox Military Person
name=Stephen Funk
born= birth date|1982|6|15
died=
placeofbirth=Seattle, WA


caption=Stephen Funk
nickname=
branch=
serviceyears= 2002-2003
rank=Private
commands=
unit=
battles=
awards=
laterwork=
portrayedby= Stephen Funk (b. June 15, 1982, Seattle, WA) is a former United States Marine Corps Landing Support Specialist and lance corporal reservist. He is also the first person to refuse to deploy in Iraq.cite web |author=BBC News |year=2003 |title=Rescued from Iraq|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/2908583.stm|work= [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/ BBC Breakfast] |accessdate=March 5, |accessyear=2007]

Background

Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserves, Funk left USC in 2000 and traveled to the Philippines for 3 months. Upon his return, Funk moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in order to become a California resident and enroll at UC Berkley. After 9/11, Funk decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, signing a six-year contract in February 2002. Near the end of boot camp, he shot expert at the rifle range, at 200-, 300- and 500-yards. Despite this, his instructor told him that he would not shoot as well in combat, Funk later said, "I told him he was right, because I felt killing was wrong." In February 2003, Funk held a press conference at the main gate of San Jose Marine Reserve Base and turned himself over to military authorities. During the conference, Funk spoke to reporters and said "There is no way to justify war because you're paying with human lives."cite web |author=Podger, Pamela J. |year=2003 |title=Marine obeys his conscience/Reservist didn't ship out with his unit to Iraq|url=http://www.objector.org/ccco/inthenews/funkco.html|work= [http://www.objector.org/ Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors] |accessdate=March 5, |accessyear=2007] Just before being taken into custody. Funk had attempted to obtain conscientious objector status and a discharge on these grounds. He was denied by a military court. At the same time he applied for conscientious objector status, Funk also came out publicly as a gay man. In 2003, while imprisoned, he was named as one of OUT Magazine's "Out 100".cite web |author=Reuters |year=2003 |title= Anti-War U.S. Marine Sentenced to Six Months in Jail|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0907-08.htm|work= [http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters] |accessdate=March 5, |accessyear=2007]

Military punishment

Of the two charges Funk was brought up on, a military jury acquitted him on September 6, 2003 of desertion, but convicted him of the lesser charge of unauthorized absence. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, reduction in rank from E-3 to E-1 and given a bad-conduct discharge.

ee also

List of Iraq War Resisters
*Conscientious Objector
*Nuremberg Principles (Principle IV)

References

External links

* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/14/BAG855KDB71.DTL 2004 SF Gate Post-ERelease Article]
* [http://justworldnews.org/archives/000322.html JustWorldNews.org Article]
* [http://www.war-times.org/issues/13art2.html Pre-Trial Statement by LCpl Funk]