Conscientious Objectors During WWII

[ken_sylvania]

Some of this took a long time to work out. I would never serve in the military because of my religious beliefs, like many who came before me. But it wasn't until after World War II that Conscientious Objector status was a real thing, largely in response to some horror stories involving Anabaptists who refused to serve during World War II. And even after that, it's very hard to get Conscientious Objector status even if you have really good documentation of your beliefs.

This seems contrary to what I heard from my grandfathers and other old men I knew. Why do you say CO status was not a real thing during WWII? What horror stories are you thinking of involving CO's during WWII?

[barnhart]

Some of this took a long time to work out. I would never serve in the military because of my religious beliefs, like many who came before me. But it wasn't until after World War II that Conscientious Objector status was a real thing, largely in response to some horror stories involving Anabaptists who refused to serve during World War II. And even after that, it's very hard to get Conscientious Objector status even if you have really good documentation of your beliefs.

This seems contrary to what I heard from my grandfathers and other old men I knew. Why do you say CO status was not a real thing during WWII? What horror stories are you thinking of involving CO's during WWII?

I think CO's were generally treated well in WW2, especially as compared to WW1. The roughest experience I am aware of is the Minnesota starvation experiment and possibly some smoke jumpers in the west were treated as expendable assets.

[ken_sylvania]

Some of this took a long time to work out. I would never serve in the military because of my religious beliefs, like many who came before me. But it wasn't until after World War II that Conscientious Objector status was a real thing, largely in response to some horror stories involving Anabaptists who refused to serve during World War II. And even after that, it's very hard to get Conscientious Objector status even if you have really good documentation of your beliefs.

This seems contrary to what I heard from my grandfathers and other old men I knew. Why do you say CO status was not a real thing during WWII? What horror stories are you thinking of involving CO's during WWII?

I think CO's were generally treated well in WW2, especially as compared to WW1. The roughest experience I am aware of is the Minnesota starvation experiment and possibly some smoke jumpers in the west were treated as expendable assets.

The Minnesota starvation experiment was volunteers, correct? Or maybe I'm thinking of a different one.

[barnhart]

Yes.

[joshuabgood]

CPS was for COs in WWII. My wife's grandfather served in Montana.

[barnhart]

CPS was for COs in WWII. My wife's grandfather served in Montana.

Doing what?

[Ernie]

Some of this took a long time to work out. I would never serve in the military because of my religious beliefs, like many who came before me. But it wasn't until after World War II that Conscientious Objector status was a real thing, largely in response to some horror stories involving Anabaptists who refused to serve during World War II. And even after that, it's very hard to get Conscientious Objector status even if you have really good documentation of your beliefs.

Not sure what led you to this conclusion.

https://centeronconscience.org/wp-conte ... porter.pdf
During WWI, 64,693 men applied for CO status. However, the government only officially recognized 20,873 of them.

https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Civil ... ic_Service
Civilian Public Service for CO's was set up during WWII and over 12,000 men served. 38 percent were Mennonites.

https://gameo.org/index.php?title=I-W_S ... ed_States)
I-W service was not begun until 1948.
Total participants were 18,500. 11-12,000 were Mennonites

[joshuabgood]

My grandfather and my Dad both did 1W. My grandfather in lieu of Korean and Dad, Vietnam. It appears I will get by with no service...

[Bootstrap]

I think CO's were generally treated well in WW2, especially as compared to WW1.

Yes, the events I was thinking of happened during WW1, not during WW2. I was obviously typing faster than I was thinking.

But my basic point is the same: the rights we think of today often did not appear out of thin air, and they weren't automatically provided by the Constitution. And it was often hard, during the Vietnam War, to get Conscientious Objector status even with clearly strong Anabaptist beliefs.

It's quite possible that we will face another time where Americans resent those who opt out of fighting wars.

[barnhart]

It's quite possible that we will face another time where Americans resent those who opt out of fighting wars.

That potentiality could escalate dramatically if the culture wars heat up into wars where people are forced to take sides.