There are many soldiers with perfect military training. However, like ordinary people, they prefer to live in peace. Others feel boredom because of remaining confined to their military barracks with no battle to wage, where they can show their heroism. Prior to British military involvement in troubled countries, especially Iraq and Afghanistan, many British pilots felt bored because there was no fight to make.
But there are other soldiers who object to go into war on moral grounds. These are conscientious objectors. There were cases in Israeli army where some soldiers refused to act in Gaza or the West Bank during Palestinian Intifada or uprising.
It remains problematic that a soldier refuses to be in action. If the whole army is of the same opinion, the country remains defenceless. Soldiers are trained to obey orders, and to sacrifice their lives for their country. Deserting the army is a treason, which means unpardonable.
But talking about pardon, there were cases of national reconciliation as in South Africa after the end of apartheid or Argentina after the end of dictatorship. Many alleged abusers were not brought to trial. Very few were tried.
So talking about pardoning dead soldiers for refusing to carry their military duty should be equated with those who committed national atrocities. If it is in the national interest of many countries to turn a new page and let the past buried, the same should apply for prosecuted soldiers, at least for the honour of their families. They should enjoy pardon as long as they were not involved in national treason, crime against humanity or their motive was groundless.
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