Matthis Chiroux

Army Sergeant Matthis Chiroux refuses to participate in the Iraq war.

On Father's Day, 2008, the day Chiroux was to scheduled to report for duty, he officially defied his orders by publicly stating to the press that he refuses to deploy to Iraq. He acknowledged that he may face "further action from the army for refusing to reactivate."

Fast Facts

1. Birthplace: Auburn, Alabama
2. Chiroux joined the U.S. Army in 2002
3. Served as an Army photojournalist
4. Served in Afghanistan, Germany, Japan and the Philippines
5. Honorably discharges in 2007
6. Placed in the Individual Ready Reserves, a list of soldiers to be reactivated in a national emergency or war
7. Considers the Iraq war "illegal and unconstitutional"
8. Member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)

Refusal to Deploy Quotes on June 15

"Tonight at midnight, I may face further action from the army for refusing to reactivate to participate in the Iraq occupation,"¹—Matthis Chiroux, Agence France-Presse

"I stand here today in defense of those who have been stripped of their voices in this occupation, the warriors of this nation..."¹—Matthis Chiroux, Agence France-Presse

Matthis Chiroux on the Iraq Occupation

""My decision is based on my desire to no longer continue violating my core values to support an illegal and unconstitutional occupation... I refuse to participate in the Iraq occupation."—Matthis Chiroux

"I was from a poor, white family from the south, and I did badly in school. I was 'filet mignon' for recruiters. They started phoning me when I was in 10th grade."—Matthis Chiroux

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