Army GI, Pacifist CO

Scott H. Bennett is an associate professor of history at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. He holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. At Georgian Court, he teaches courses on modern American history, peace history, and nonviolent social movements. He has published and spoken widely on peace history, radical pacifism, nonviolent social movements, and World War II conscientious objectors. He has written Radical Pacifism: The War Resisters League and Gandhian Nonviolence in America, 1915–1923 (Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution [Syracuse University Press], 2003) and edited Army GI, Pacifist CO: The World War II Letters of Frank and Albert Dietrich (New York: Fordham University Press, 2005). He is completing a book manuscript on the lives and World War II prison letters of radical pacifist siblings Igal and Vivien Roodenko. He is president of the Peace History Society.

"The book provides an important window into the mind of a true conscientious objection." -La Junta Tribune Democrat "Bennett provides a capsule biography of the Dietrich brothers and discusses the role that non combatant GIs played in the U.S. military. He offers a neglected perspective on conscription, pacifism, conscientious objection and dissent during the "good war." -Atlantic Highlands Herald "A close and intimate look at the experiences - and sharply differing perspectives - of identical twins whose lives diverged dramatically during World War II..." -Ocean County Observer "Rich in fascinating details and documentation related to social history as well as public policy issues on the status and contributions of conscientious objectors." -H-Peace "The story of the Dietrich twins is especially significant as both men served our country while maintaining their ideals and bond as brothers." -Atlantic Highlands Herald "... One of the book's central themes is the tenacity of love and respect even in the face of significant disagreement on fundamental issues." -Peace & Change