"The Court Martial of Richard Bucklin" by Roger Neville Williams, The New Republic, December 15, 1973

Richard Bucklin deserted the U.S. Army in 1968 because he believed the Vietnam War was wrong. He lived in exile in Sweden for five years before turning himself in, expecting only a discharge. At first the Army seemed ready to release him, but then reversed its decision and put him on trial, charging him with being absent without leave (AWOL). Bucklin’s case became significant because his lawyers argued he was justified in refusing to fight in an illegal war.