Anthrax Dissenters Land At Peterson

by John Diedrich, The Gazette

Colorado Springs Gazette

February 4, 2000

(Petersen AFB, CO) An Air Force computer specialist from California who refused to take the anthrax vaccination because of perceived health risks is serving 30 days in a boot camp-style program at Peterson Air Force Base.

Correctional custody, usually reserved for airmen who are overweight, chronically late for work or in violation of other rules, is one tool commanders are using to try to force airmen to take the mandatory anthrax inoculation.

Air Force officials couldn't say how many airmen who refused the shots have gone to correctional custody, and as of now there is no Pentagon policy requiring those who refuse to be sent to the program.

"The commanders have wide discretion as to how they treat these cases," said Maj. Chet Curtis, a Pentagon spokesman.

Jerry Gilreath, a former staff sergeant who was demoted to airman first class, arrived Jan. 20 at Peterson's Correctional Custody Facility from Travis Air Force Base, Peterson spokesman Lt. Jason Medina said.

Another airman from Travis who refused the shot, Senior Airman Patrick Carr, expects to be sent to the Peterson center for 30 days as early as this weekend, said his wife, Tracey.

While Gilreath's commander wouldn't talk about the case, it's safe to say putting him in correctional custody is meant to change his mind about the inoculation and impose punishment.

Peterson has one of four correctional custody facilities in the Air Force. Gilreath was sent to Peterson because it was closest to Travis. Medina said one other airman who refused the anthrax inoculation was sent to Peterson for the 30-day program in mid-1999.

The debate over the anthrax shot reveals distrust some military members have of Pentagon measures meant to protect them against deadly biological warfare.

"The (anthrax) threat is real, and it's fatal, and the vaccine protects. Bottom line," Curtis said.

Those who refuse the shots maintain they're untested and unsafe. They suggest gulf war illness, the mysterious symptoms reported by more than 100,000 Persian Gulf War veterans, was caused by the anthrax shot.

The anthrax shot is being given to all 2.4 million U.S. military members. To date, more than 350,000 military members have started the six-shot series, and an estimated 300 have refused it.

In the Air Force, about 123,000 members have received the first shot; 121 have received administrative discipline for refusing; and three have been court-martialed for refusing, Air Force officials said.

In Colorado, three service members have refused the anthrax inoculation.

An airman at the Air Force Academy refused in September 1998 and left the service. Two soldiers at Fort Carson refused it late last year. One of the soldiers agreed to take it when faced with legal proceedings. The other refused and has left the service with a record of less than honorable service, a Fort Carson spokeswoman said.

In Gilreath's case, he was ordered to take the shot Nov. 19 after he received orders to deploy to Saudi Arabia, his wife, Lisa, said.

When the 28-year-old computer network manager at Travis refused, he was first demoted and then ordered to the correctional custody program.

While in the correctional program, airmen are confined to the center on base, receive regular inspections, write essays on subjects such as following orders and integrity, and perform manual labor such as shoveling snow.

Peterson officials rejected The Gazette's request to interview Gilreath. Medina said the only people he can see are a doctor, lawyer and someone in his chain of command.