Ben Sherman was drafted during the Vietnam War and refused weapons training, which lead him to become a medic during the war.
Ben has written a compelling and emotional account of this time in his life (Medic! The Story of a Conscientious Objector in the Vietnam War), of his application for Conscientious Objector status, his being denied this status, and his subsequent training and evolution into the role of unarmed combat medic. His story examines the role of the serving CO in the military, especially how his fellow soldiers felt about his decision to not carry a weapon. Ben is also a member of the Next Step Theater Group on Mercer Island, WA, where he regularly directs and writes for the theater. Earlier this year his theater presented the premier of his play Jules Dot Com, the story of modern office politics based on Julius Caesar. Ben is currently working on a film adaptation of Medic!
"To me, it wasn't a political view [being a Conscientious Objector]. I was not opposed to the war [in Vietnam]. I was opposed to killing. That's a spiritual view, not a political view. That is a personal, a very personal statement that I made about myself. I determined that there was nothing they could do or say to force me to kill another human being. That was really clear to me. I don't know if it came in a thunderbolt or if God put it there or what happened to me, but I knew, WITHOUT A DOUBT, that I was not going to kill another human being. Period."
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