3 get boot
over anthrax shots

More island military
personnel are discharged
for refusing immunizations

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Two Kaneohe Marines and a Hickam Air Force Base airman have been discharged for refusing to take the Pentagon's mandatory anthrax immunization shots, while a third Marine faces a court-martial next month.

That brings the total to four island service members -- two Marines, one Air Force airman and one Pearl Harbor sailor -- discharged for failing to take the anthrax inoculations.

Identified by the Marine Corps as the two Marines discharged June 4 were Pfc. Philip T. Schafer, 21, of Island Lake, Ill., and Pfc. Caleb K. Johnson, 21, of Clover, S.C. Both are members of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 at Kaneohe Bay.

At Marine Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, 12 Marines, including Pvts. Roman Lezo Jr. and Adam Cooper, have refused.

Lezo, a helicopter mechanic who has refused three orders to take shots, was supposed to face a special court-martial today, but his case was postponed until July 23. He will become the first service person in Hawaii to face a special court-martial for refusing the immunizations.

Lezo of Sherman Oaks, Calif., is charged with two counts of disobeying an order to take the shots and dereliction of duty because of his actions.

There also was another charge of disrespect to a noncommissioned officer in an incident that is unrelated to the anthrax case.

Lezo, 20, has been demoted in rank, had his pay docked, given extra duty and restricted to his barracks because of his refusal.

Besides Lezo, the only other Marine who has publicly voiced his opposition is Cooper, 20, from New York.

On June 2, Cooper was told for the fourth time to take the shot. He refused on three other occasions to be inoculated, according to his mother, Mary Cooper. His punishments have been similar in nature to Lezo's, including reduction in rank.

Earlier this week, Lezo had told his parents in Southern California that the Marine Corps might be willing to discharge him to avoid an embarrassing court-martial. He has been in the Marine Corps for the past two years.

"But it's been really hard to get information from them," said his father, Roman Lezo Sr. "They are always playing games."

At Tripler Army Medical Center, one female enlisted soldier has refused to be inoculated, but as yet no administrative action has been taken against her. More than 700 Tripler soldiers have begun the series of six vaccinations.

In the Navy, two sailors from the USS Frederick -- a tank-landing craft -- were allowed to remain with their vessel after their request for a waiver was rejected while their cases were being reviewed. One sailor deployed with the Frederick when it left Pearl Harbor for a six-month mission June 1, while the other remained in Hawaii.

Navy Petty Officer Elsie Polak, 31, a 12 1/2-year veteran, and Petty Officer James Marttila, 23, who has been in the Navy for 5 1/2 years, believe the shots are not safe.

Five other Pearl Harbor sailors also are debating whether to take the shots, the Navy said.

More than a quarter-million soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines have been inoculated since the Pentagon began the program more than a year ago. Roughly 200 have refused the shots.

Critics also wonder if the vaccine will cause long-term health problems and whether the manufacturer is reliable.

"The Navy is committed to protecting its sailors from the dangers of the deadly anthrax," said Lt. Cmdr. Rod Gibbons, a Navy spokesman. The military describes anthrax as "the greatest biological warfare threat currently facing U.S. military personnel."

Gibbons said: "It is nearly 100 percent lethal to those who become infected. More than 10 countries have, or are suspected of having, a biological warfare capability."

The Navy says that at Pearl Harbor, the shots have been administered to 3,500 sailors. The inoculations also have been given to 60 Hawaii Army and Air National Guard, 250 Army Reservist and 585 Air Force personnel here.

Nationwide, roughly 200 military personnel have refused the shots and ended up with administrative punishments, such as loss in rank and pay, and in some cases discharge from the service.

The military has argued that the vaccination is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and has been in use since 1970.

Defense Secretary William Cohen has ordered the inoculations for all 2.4 million people in uniform.