His tumultuous military career now officially over, Ehren Watada is preparing for a new life away from the national spotlight.

The former Army lieutenant and Honolulu native, who made headlines worldwide for refusing to deploy to Iraq on the grounds that the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of the country violated international law, was officially discharged "under other than honorable conditions" on Friday.

Fort Lewis spokesman Joseph Piek confirmed the discharge to the Washington-based newspaper The Olympian.

In keeping with his desire to no longer be a "story," Watada, 31, is declining all requests for interviews and public appearances, according to his lawyer, Ken Kagan.

"While it is true that he has no fear of retribution from the Army, and made no agreements of any kind to remain silent, he has been under a microscope for more than three years, and has decided he wishes to shun any further limelight or attention, and wants to reclaim his privacy and anonymity," Kagan wrote in an e-mail to The Advertiser. "He advised me that he believes he has made a sufficient public record of his actions and beliefs, and feels he has nothing further to add to that record."

Watada, the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq, was allowed to resign following a protracted legal battle that ended in a stalemate.

Watada was tried in military court in February 2007 for "missing movement" and "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman" (for comments he made about the Bush administration and the war in Iraq). The proceedings ended in a mistrial and Watada's team successfully pre-empted a second trial by arguing double jeopardy.

Watada, who had offered to deploy to Afghanistan, had been working at a desk job at Fort Lewis prior to his discharge.

Kagan conveyed Watada's appreciation to friends, family and supporters.

"I know that he's going to try to find a way, in his own way and in his own time, to thank people for their support," Kagan wrote. "He understands, too, that there are multitudes of vociferous detractors, and he realizes that nothing he says or does will change some people's minds."