Fred Merchawk

Released
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1910s
State:New York
Support
Anti-War Conscientious Objection
No image available

Biography

Fred Merchawk was a conscientious objector from New York imprisoned during World War I. Court-martialed for refusing military service, he was held at Fort Leavenworth. 5 years in prison, reduced to 1 year. (Documented in the Swarthmore College Peace Collection's World War I Conscientious Objectors database.) Archival note: registered for draft on June 5, 1917, as a C.O.; interviewed by Bd. on Feb. 14, 1919 at Disciplinary Barracks ; charged with disobedience of orders; sentenced to 5 years in prison, reduced to 1 year; reason for stance = Russian alien (not a U.S. citizen)

Case

United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth
Charges: Disobeying orders; refusal of military service (World War I court-martial of a conscientious objector)
Sentence: 5 years in prison, reduced to 1 year. Held at Fort Leavenworth.
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: Kansas

Related Cases

Henry Pollack Henry Pollack Jacob E. Haugen Jacob E. Haugen Knud M. Lassen Knud M. Lassen Benjamin Breger Benjamin Breger Gustus Wortsmann Gustus Wortsmann Henry Monsky Henry Monsky Jacob Wortsmann Jacob Wortsmann Malcom B. McJannet