Catherine Arnett, at the time a Marine assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, speaks about her decision to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, in this screenshot from the Echo 7 Sierra YouTube channel, Jan. 17, 2023. (Catherine Arnett)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – A Marine veteran who refused the COVID-19 vaccine while serving in Japan and defied orders to return home was arrested this month at her former duty station.

Japanese police allege that Catherine Arnett, 25, was detained by military police after attempting to enter MCAS Iwakuni around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 1, a city police spokesman told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday. She was turned over to Iwakuni city police around 11:30 a.m. that day and released from custody “last week,” the spokesman said.

Arnett was returned to California in Marine Corps custody earlier this year and spent 113 days in brigs awaiting a court-martial before the Corps dropped all charges against her, set her free and administratively discharged her. 

As a lance corporal at MCAS Iwakuni, Arnett refused at least three times to board aircraft bound for the U.S. and faced discharge for refusing the vaccine. She was charged separately with insubordination, missing a military flight, disobeying an officer and other offenses over her refusal to leave Japan. 

Arnett, who described herself as a staunch Catholic, said the 2021 vaccine mandate from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was an unlawful order. Her case drew attention from a foundation critical of vaccines, Children’s Health Defense, founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who interviewed her on his podcast. 

Another nonprofit foundation, founded by former SEAL Eddie Gallagher, in June helped raise $50,000 for Arnett’s legal expenses.

Arnett did not respond to a Dec. 6 request from Stars and Stripes by Facebook Messenger and a phone call Tuesday seeking comment. In response to an email Tuesday, a woman who described herself as Arnett’s secretary said Arnett was engaging in an act of civil disobedience by returning to MCAS Iwakuni.

“Ms. Arnett was solely standing on the principle that since the mandate was unconstitutional from the jump, all other actions that transpired as a result were also unlawful orders,” Jamie Engel said by email Friday. “She arrived at the base to take the stand and drive home the concept that she refused to take her DD214 and still refuses to comply with any separation orders.” 

DD-214 is the official form issued to a service member upon their discharge from military service.

Military police at MCAS Iwakuni detained Arnett on suspicion of violating the status of forces agreement between Japan and the U.S., the spokesman said. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

“Catherine Arnett was separated from the United States Marine Corps several months ago and has since had no official affiliation with the service,” base spokesman 1st Lt. Aaron Ellis told Stars and Stripes by email on Wednesday. “Since Catherine Arnett is a civilian, we do not have any additional information.” 

Unauthorized entries of U.S. military installations in Japan may be prosecuted by Japanese authorities, Ellis said. 

The case was referred to Japanese prosecutors, but no decision had been made as of Tuesday to prosecute Arnett, a spokesman for the Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutor’s Office said by phone Tuesday.