Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
The Army grants the officer’s resignation under "other than honorable conditions"
By Gregg K. Kakesako, Honolulu Star Bulletin, Sep 26, 2009
First Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned military officer to refuse deployment to Iraq because he believed it was an illegal war, has won his three-year legal battle with the Army.
With little fanfare the Army at Fort Lewis, Wash., accepted the resignation of the 1996 Kalani High School graduate, and he will be discharged the first week in October.
Rather than seek a second court-martial against the artillery officer, the Army will grant Watada a discharge under "other than honorable conditions," [in lieu of general court-martial].
Joseph J. Piek, Fort Lewis spokesman, said, "This is an administrative discharge, and the characterization of Lt. Watada’s discharge is not releasable under the privacy act."
Watada said yesterdayWatada said he turned in his resignation papers in July, and they were approved by the commanding general at Fort Lewis and sent to his higher headquarters. Watada learned of the Army’s final approval on Sept. 16.