By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Army says it has no plans to court-martial 23 soldiers who refused to go on a mission in Iraq. The military says instead the reservists may face extra duties, reduction in rank or other less severe punishments. The members of the South Carolina-based 343rd Quartermaster Company said the mission was too dangerous, so they refused to show up to transport supplies and fuel to a base north of Baghdad. The platoon has troops from Alabama. An Army spokesperson says the soldiers are being charged with failure to follow orders.