Did you hear the story about Charles Wright: A conscientious objector goes to war?

As a young man I thought going to war was my duty as a Soldier. I thought it was where my father and grandfather went, so why can't I? I saw the medals, the combat patches and was in awe. I thought it was "glamorous" to say you went and did it. That lasted 14 years. I went and did everything I could to get into the fight thinking what I did, not listening to those who went before me, telling me that it's not what you think, and not what you'll do. Looking back at it, I wouldn't change a thing, but if I could tell my younger self something, or write a note to me, it'd say "it's not glamorous, not fun, it's going to change you in ways you have no clue about. You're going to spend time (a LOT of time) doing absolutely nothing with spurts of pure terror (those are very rare). You'll loose a lot of yourself, and gain a set of balls that you never used before like this. I'd say prepare to loose everything you knew and loved, and be ready to gain a lot more. And I'd tell myself stop looking for the damn patches...you got em. Now I'm older (not really wiser per se), but I don't want to go to war anymore. Seen it, been there, got the t-shirt. But I know in my heart that before I see some snot nosed 18yr old go, I'd suit up and be long gone before that kid ruins his youth. Great article Sir. Really hits in the gut.

There is an expression that covers this situation well: "He has the courage of his convictions". It's a trait to which we should all aspire. Although I applaud his courage, I know others who don't. Let me tell you a story...

As Chief of Awards and Decorations for the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam it was my honor to present recommendations to a panel of officers who voted on the award. One was a recommendation for a Silver Star to be awarded to a medic who charged ahead of his beleaguered patrol to reach and cover a fallen point man with his own body then minister to his wounds after the enemy was driven off. I had to tear up ballots and resubmit the recommendation to successive panels because all disallowed or reduced the award to an ACM with "V" because this "hero" was a conscientious objector. He received the Silver Star only because I presented the recommendation directly to the commanding general with my unsupported recommendation.

You may condemn me for my action. My immediate superiors who wrote my Officer Efficiency Reports certainly did which is why my tenure in the Army was limited to five and a half years. However, I also won awards from senior officers who were happy that I got things done. Que sera sera...

It sounds to me like the man did his job and did it well.
He was a conscripted soldier, he told them up front his beliefs. He finished his training, performed his duties with honor and was given an opportunity to leave early. He finished his conscription and had to put up with the flack from other soldiers for not picking up a gun.
It seems to me if you were to hold him up to today's Army Values, he would be an example to aspire to for being true to himself and honest with the Army and those he worked with.