Kurt Hickman charged by army--2nd time (1st by National Guard) for refusing anthrax vaccine

January 25, 2004

Ohio National Guard Member Charged For Refusing Anthrax Vaccine

Reported by: AP News

Web produced by: Neil Relyea

Photographed by: 9News

1/25/04 11:05:57 PM

An Ohio National Guard member has been charged by the Army with disobeying a

lawful order after he again refused to take the anthrax vaccine.

Specialist Kurt Hickman refused to take the series of shots on January 14 after

his unit was deployed to Camp Atterbury in Indiana in preparation for going

overseas.

Hickman, who has said the vaccine can cause serious side effects, was formally

charged on Friday as an active duty member of the Army, which places the case

under the federal uniform code of military justice, according to Army Major

Pfaff.

Hickman could go to jail and be discharged if convicted.

Pfaff said the charge is separate from Hickman's court martial in Ohio last

month.

Hickman, 20-years old, of Granville, became the first Ohio National Guard member

to be court-martialed after he was convicted of disobeying a direct order in

November to take the vaccination.

A military judge recommended he serve 40-days in jail, be demoted from

specialist to private and receive a bad conduct discharge.

Pfaff said any penalties incurred from the latest charge could be added to those

from Ohio, which are currently under review.

Hickman's previous penalty was put on hold after U.S. District Judge Emmett

Sullivan ruled that the military could not force troops to take shots against

their will without an order of the president.

Sullivan lifted his ban earlier this month after the FDA said the vaccine was

safe and effective for use against inhaled anthrax.

More than 900,000 servicemen and women have received the shots, and hundreds of

service members have been punished or discharged for refusing them, according to

the Pentagon.

Meryl Nass, MD

H 207 276-5092

W 207 288-5082 ext 220 or pager 441

C 207 522-5229

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