In February 2003, Marine Landing Specialist L/Cpl Stephen Funk, 25, became the first American soldier to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq. He applied for a Conscientious Objector discharge, saying, “"There is no way to justify war because you're paying with human lives." In September 2003, he was court-martialed and sentenced to six months imprisonment and reduction in rank to private. He is currently an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War in the SF Bay Area.