Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats PART 2

PART 2
Complaints include prayers in Jesus name at mandatory functions, which violates military regulations, and officers proselytizing subordinates to be born again. After getting the complainants? unit and command information, Mr. Weinstein said, he calls his contacts in the military to try to correct the situation.


Religion is inextricably intertwined with their jobs, Mr. Weinstein said. ?You?re promoted by who you pray with.

Specialist Hall came to atheism after years as a Christian. He was raised Baptist by his grandmother in Richlands, N.C., a town of less than 1,000 people. She read the Bible to him every night, and he said he joined the Army ?to make something of myself.

I thought going to Iraq was right because we had God on our side, he said in an interview near Fort Riley.

In the summer of 2005, after his first deployment to Iraq, Specialist Hall became friends with soldiers with atheist leanings. Their questions about faith prompted him to read the Bible more closely, which bred doubts that deepened over time.

?There are so many religions in the world, he said. Everyone thinks hes right. Who is right? Even people who are Christians think other Christians are wrong.

Specialist Hall said he did not advertise his atheism. But his views became apparent during his second deployment in 2006. At a Thanksgiving meal, someone at his table asked everyone to pray. Specialist Hall did not join in, explaining to a sergeant that he did not believe in God. The sergeant got angry, he said, and told him to go to another table.

After his run-in with Major Welborn, Specialist Hall did not file a complaint with the Armys Equal Opportunity Office because, he said, he was mistrustful of his superior officers. Instead, he told leaders of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, who put him in touch with Mr. Weinstein. In November 2007, Specialist Hall was sent home early from Iraq after being repeatedly threatened by other soldiers. I caution you that although your legal issues are yours and yours alone, I have heard many people disagree with you, and this may be a cause for some of the perceived threats, wrote Sgt. Maj. Kevin Nolan in Specialist Halls counseling for his departure.

Though with a different unit now at Fort Riley, Specialist Hall said the backlash had continued. He has a no-contact order with a sergeant who, without provocation, threatened to bust him in the mouth. Another sergeant allegedly told Specialist Hall that as an atheist, he was not entitled to religious freedom because he had no religion.

Responding to questions about Specialist Halls experience at Fort Riley, the staff judge advocate, Col. Arnold Scott, said in an e-mail message, In accordance with Army policy, Fort Riley is committed to ensuring the rights of all its soldiers are protected, including those of Specialist Hall.

Civilian courts in the past have been reluctant to take on military cases, and the Justice Department has yet to respond to Specialist Halls lawsuit.

Even if it doesnt go through, I stood up, Specialist Hall said. I dont think it is futile.