Atheist Soldier Files Lawsuit for Discrimination

Junction City, KSBeing called "the atheist guy" by fellow soldiers, as well as other names such as a devil worshiper, immoral, and even gay, Jeremy Hall has had enough. He says that he has taken so much that he filed a lawsuit in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas on September 18, 2007.

The 23-year-old specialist says that he's not in it for the cash, but he doesn't want anyone to go through the things that he has gone through. He says he has a respect for his soldiers with religious beliefs because he has driven the soldiers to their Iraqi churches. He even pauses during prayer before meals as a sign of respect for those with beliefs. He says all he sees is an American flag on the shoulders of his fellow soldiers and a name and rank. He feels that is what the soldiers should see when they look at him.

Hall was raised in a protestant family, but it is when he joined the army that he started questioning his beliefs. He finally decided that following any faith was not for him, but he did not volunteer this information to his fellow soldiers because he feared how it would look to them. But it was after a 2007 firefight that his secret came out.

After the firefight, his commander asked him whether or not he believed in God and he told his commander that he didn't. He did say he believed in "Plexiglas." The Humvee they were riding in had taken several shots to its protective shield. He further said to his commander that he never believed he would be going to a happy place when he died, that he would be worm food once he was gone.

The issue became a larger problem when Major Freddie J. Welborn allegedly threatened charges against Hall while berating him and another soldier. This occurred when Hall tried to bring together a meeting of atheists while in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations against him.

This is when Hall says he turned to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and a man named Mikey Weinstein. Weinstein is the president of the MRFF and had sued the Air Force himself when he said that Christian beliefs were being forced upon the soldiers. Weinstein's case was dismissed, but Hall believes him to be a hero for moving forward with his complaint.

Hall says that after other soldiers learned of his lawsuit against the army, he became fearful of his own safety. He said he had been harassed by a group of soldiers who followed him around and says that no one did a thing to make them stop. He was then sent back to Fort Riley when the army told him that they were not able to protect him while in Iraq. He resumed his duties with the military police battalion, but believes that he was denied a promotion to sergeant because of the lawsuit that he filed while he was in Qatar. However, he is still responsible for two junior soldiers.

The army, the Defense Department, or anyone at Fort Riley will not comment on the lawsuit, but they have said that they will not tolerate any type of discrimination no matter what it is. Spokeswoman Eileen Lainez has said that the department supports and respects the religious beliefs of others, including those who do not have beliefs.

Hall alleges that he has been told he would be a better leader if he had religious beliefs, but he says he doesn't want or need them. He also says he will not "get down" on anyone for having beliefs of their own.

Another soldier, Timothy Feary, says that Hall is telling the truth because he saw everything.

By: Ginger Gillenwater