News

Afghan war objector faces discharge

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Female Army cook enters guilty plea, serving sentence
by Alan Riquelmy, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, May 23, 2006

Army Spc. Katherine Jashinski, a conscientious objector being held at Fort Benning, will receive a bad conduct discharge and sentenced to confinement Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to "refusal to obey a legal order," her supporters and a post official said.

Jashinski, who publicly declared her conscientious objector status at November's SOA Watch protest in Columbus, received a 120-day confinement. Iraq Veterans Against the War said Jashinski has already served 53 days and received 20 days off for good behavior, leaving her less than two months to serve.

"I do know she got 120 days confinement," said Tracy Bailey, public affairs specialist at Fort Benning.

Bailey couldn't confirm other details late Tuesday.

"Iraq Veterans Against the War supports the right of every soldier to follow their conscience," said Aidan Delgado, a member of the group. "As the first woman GI to publicly take a stand against this war and to declare herself a CO, Katherine's actions are very significant."

A member of the Texas Army National Guard and serving as an Army cook, Jashinski fought deployment to Afghanistan and sought a military discharge. A U.S. District Court judge in San Antonio denied her in November a temporary restraining order that would have delayed her deployment to join her unit already overseas. She reported to Fort Benning the next week for weapons training.