An Army officer who has made national headlines for refusing to serve in Iraq will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall.

First Lieutenant Ehren Watada, stationed at Fort Lewis, became the Army’s first commissioned officer to publicly refuse orders to fight in Iraq on the grounds that the war is illegal.

Coupeville Peace and Reconciliation is sponsoring the event. Watada will speak in Bremerton on Saturday following the appearance.

The 28-year-old Watada announced his decision to not obey orders in a June 7 video press conference. He said in the press conference that his participation in the war would make him “party to war crimes.”

Watada has maintained that the war is illegal and that an order to take part in an illegal war is unlawful in itself.

The officer did not apply for a conscientious objector discharge because he is not opposed to all wars. Requests by Watada to be sent to Afghanistan have been denied. He now faces a court martial on Feb. 5 and up to four years in prison for conduct unbecoming an officer, referring to his public decrying of the war.

Initially, Watada was formally charged with contempt toward President Bush, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and missing movement, or deployment.

On Nov. 11, the charges of “contempt towards the President” were dropped, but he is still facing four years in prison if he continues “political speech critical of the Iraq War.”

“I think the recent elections show more and more Americans are opening their eyes, but we aren’t there yet,” Watada says online at www.thankyoult.org. “I hope that actions such as mine will continue to help expose the truth behind the fundamental illegality and immorality of the war.”

Watada is originally from Hawaii and is currently stationed at Fort Lewis. He enlisted in the military after graduating from college. He received no financial assistance for college or loans from the Army.

He reported for basic training on June 18, 2003. After he received his officer’s commission, Lt. Watada was obligated to serve on active duty as an Army officer for a term of three years, which concluded Dec. 3 of last year.

In January 2006, he first asked for permission to resign his commission, based on his convictions about the illegality and immorality of the Iraq war, but he was refused. He was then refused assignment to Afghanistan.

Watada’s parents have been speaking across the country in support of their son. Supporters have rallied outside the gates of Fort Lewis and across the continent in support of his stand.

A Citizens Tribunal will be held at the Evergreen Tacoma Campus Jan. 20 and 21. International law experts will come from around the globe to educate the public at the tribunal and will possibly testify at his court martial hearing Feb. 5.

Marjorie Cohn, president of the National Lawyers Guild, has prepared background briefs for Watada’s defense.

And Retired Col. Ann Wright, a former ambassador who resigned in protest against the Iraq war, appeared with Watada when he announced publicly his refusal of orders to serve in Iraq.