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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Army Medic Refuses To Serve U.N.

Associated Press

The Army said Tuesday it is considering disciplinary action against a medic in Germany who refused to join his unit in preparing for a scheduled deployment as part of a U.N. task force in the former Yugoslavia.

Spc. Michael New of Conroe, Texas, refused to don a uniform with the U.N. insignia and blue headgear when the 1st Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, at Schweinfurt, Germany, was ordered in formation Tuesday morning, said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Bill Harkey at the Pentagon.

A New family legal adviser, retired Marine Col. Ronald D. Ray of Crestwood, Ky., quoted New in a statement as saying he was taking his stand based on the Constitution.

“I don’t regard the Charter of the U.N. and the Constitution of the U.S. to be compatible documents,” New said.

“If an American who took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States can be forced to serve another power or army, further the agenda of documents alien to constitutional principles, then that American is not a free man.”