DownloadJuly 19 issue
Network in Germany helps soldiers find a way out of the military
Counselors in Germany help soldier with CO beliefs get honorable discharge
By Melanie Hess Mennonite Mission NetworkPage:
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BAMMENTAL, Germany — J.T.’s father was killed in a car accident.
Daniel Hershberger, right, and Marius can Hoogstraten at work in the Military Counseling Network office. — Photo by Mennonite Mission Network
Then his mother died from a drug overdose, and J.T. — whose real name is not used for privacy reasons — moved in with his grandparents.
Months later, his grandmother died, and his grandfather committed suicide.
With no one left, J.T. joined the military at age 18. This was a decision he would later come to regret, and one that prompted him, in the midst of depression and stress, to contact the Military Counseling Network, a project of the German Mennonite Peace Committee.
With the help of MCN, J.T. received an honorable discharge from the armed services May 15.
Daniel Hershberger, who serves at MCN through Mennonite Mission Network, is usually involved with multiple cases like J.T.’s. He provides information and counsel to U.S. service members who wish to receive a discharge from the military or learn more about their rights.
Early this year, Hershberger found himself particularly struck by J.T.’s case.
“As I talked with J.T. in person and on the phone many times, his story began to break my heart,” Hershberger wrote. “Here was a young man who had lost all those important to him, and saw the military as his only chance to make something of his life… . Admittedly somewhat naive, he did not know what he was getting himself into.”
As they talked, J.T. expressed his many misgivings about the military. He didn’t like the culture within his unit, as his buddies bragged about their drug, sex and alcohol-fueled escapades, but even more so as they joked about being killers.
J.T. knew he stood for values contrary to those of the military. At target practice he found himself unable to fire at the human-shaped targets. The more it became clear what it meant to be in the infantry, the more depressed he became.
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Comments
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It is really sad that the armed forces deceptively entice people to join. Then they set up objects in the form of human bodies and force the people to shoot them. "buddies bragged about their drug, sex, and alcohol related escapades . . ." These are our "best young men and women" our politicians say. Read the entire article to learn or re-learn other tactics.
No wonder we have such a high increase in suicides of soldiers in service and after service. And it has effects on our society-- PTSD and other sad mental, physicdal, and spiritual problems.
Pray for the conversion of our citizens!
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