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James J. Howe, Jr., Appellee-Petitioner v. Melvin R. Laird, Secretary of Defense, Appellants-Respondents
456 F.2d 233
5th Cir.
1972
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PER CURIAM.

The district court concluded that there was no basis in fact for the denial by the Army of conscientious objector status to appellee. We agree. Helwick v. Laird, 5 Cir., 1971, 438 F.2d 959; Kessler v. United States, 5 Cir., 1969, 406 F.2d 151.

The finding of the district court that appellee’s statement in support of his application for discharge, if sincere, made out a prima facie ease, is not disputed. The Army was of the view that appellee lacked the depth of conviction required to qualify for discharge as a conscientious objector. This result rested on the disbelief of appellee by the Army officials who interviewed him. We are unable to find any “. . . affirmative evidence to support the rejection . . .” nor is there anything in the record which “. . substantially blurs the picture painted by [appellee] and thus casts doubt on his sincerity . . . ” Kessler v. United States, supra, 406 F.2d at 156.

Affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: James J. Howe, Jr., Appellee-Petitioner v. Melvin R. Laird, Secretary of Defense, Appellants-Respondents
Court Name: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Date Published: Mar 9, 1972
Citation: 456 F.2d 233
Docket Number: 71-3484
Court Abbreviation: 5th Cir.
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