First Female Iraq War Deserter Is Jailed For 10 Months

Kimberly Rivera (Photo from blog.amnestyusa.org)

Female U.S. Army Deserter Pleads Guilty, Gets 10-Month Prison Term -- Reuters

(Reuters) - An Army private believed to be the first female U.S. soldier to seek refuge in Canada rather than return to duty in Iraq was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to desertion, military officials in Colorado said on Tuesday.

Kimberly Rivera, who said she grew opposed to the war during a three-month tour of duty in Iraq, pleaded guilty at a court-martial proceeding in Fort Carson, Colorado, on Monday and was sentenced immediately.

In addition to the prison time, the 30-year-old private was reduced in rank, ordered to forfeit pay and benefits and received a bad conduct discharge, base spokeswoman Meghan Williams said.

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More News On The Jailing Of A U.S. Army Deserter

First Female Iraq War Resister to Be Court Martialed -- Time/AP
U.S. soldier who fled to Canada to avoid Iraq war gets 10 months in jail -- Globe and Mail/AP
Female soldier who moved to Canada admits desertion -- UPI
Woman soldier who admits deserting army to avoid Iraq deployment is sentenced to 10 months in jail -- Daily Mail
US soldier Kimberly Rivera jailed for desertion -- BBC

Army To Allow Iraq War Objector To Resign

Photo: 1st Lt. Ehren Watada poses for a photograph in his Lacey, Wash., apartment, in this Feb. 2, 2007 file photo. John Froschauer / AP

From MSNBC:

HONOLULU - The Army is allowing the first commissioned officer to be court-martialed for refusing to go to Iraq to resign from the service, his attorney said late Friday.

First Lt. Ehren Watada will be granted a discharge Oct. 2, "under other than honorable conditions," attorney Kenneth Kagan said.

Watada told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin he was happy the matter has finally been closed.

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My Comment: He got off lucky ..... very lucky.