Mennonite Central Committee

Profiles of Historic Conscientious Objectors

 

Although Ted Studebaker was a true pacifist, his life cannot be described as passive. Having grown up in West Milton Church of the Brethren in Ohio, Ted formed his pacifist beliefs early in life. As noted by his pastor, these were based on a "vision of Christ as the example to strive toward. Jesus was a mover, Ted once said, meaning that he traveled and wherever he traveled he helped people in need. Jesus was not one who called us to spend life in self-contemplation...Jesus called us to be movers. Ted was a mover."

When Ted finished college, the Vietnam War was reaching its peak. Ted decided to go to Vietnam as a conscientious objector and serve in accordance with his Christian beliefs. He went as a volunteer agriculturalist for Vietnam Christian Service. While there, he worked in the village of Di Linh in South Vietnam. He learned to speak both the Vietnamese and Koho languages and to truly know and appreciate the Montagnard people. (an ethnic minority)

Ted lived in Vietnam for two years, and had planned to stay a third year. In April of 1971 he married Ven Pak, also a volunteer, whom he described as "...such a real and honest person.... humble too, by golly!" One week later at age 25, he was killed when the house he had been living in was shelled and raided by Vietcong soldiers. Ted was shot to death by these soldiers who found him in his room.

Ted Studebaker was born in Ohio in September of 1945. He grew up on a farm, the seventh of eight children in his family. He graduated after three years of study from Manchester College and earned a masters degree in social work from Florida State University. Ted was, in the words of his brother Gary, ".. a man whose life makes sense...who knew the true depths of love and...he knew that this was more powerful than hatred and killing...a man who went to where the human suffering was and then did something about it...a giver...of many things including self.."

The day before he died, Ted wrote, "Above all, Christ taught me to love all people, including enemies, and to return good for evil, and that all men are brothers in Christ. I condemn all war and conscientiously refuse to take part in it in any active or violent way. I believe love is a stronger and more enduring power than hatred for my fellow man, regardless of who they are or what they believe."

For more information, visit the following Web sites:
www.cob-net.org/ted/pioneer.htm