Soliders who avoid war: Cowards?

My best friend's brother, "W",  is a solider in the American army.  He was in the first group of soliders to be sent to Iraq and spent a year there.  Then, he and his infantry were sent to Iraq for a second time, again serving a year.  During these two years overseas, his best friends was killed, and he experienced things that most of us will never be able to comprehend.  Now, he is living Georgia and has one year left in the army.  His wife has found a way for him to avoid going back to Iraq, and he is thinking about doing it.  All she has to do is "pull some strings" and he can stay in the States until his year is up.  "W"'s father is completely appalled by this, and has called his son a coward on more than one occasion.  Some of "W"'s friends had "pulled some strings" before the first time that the infantry was sent to Iraq, and therefore, never had to serve overseas.  To me, that is being cowardly.  You enrolled in the army to serve and protect your country, and that's what you should do.  However, I don't see it as being cowardly that "W" doesn't want to go back for a third time.  To me, he has done his part to protect this country, and has seen his friends blown to bits before his eyes---twice.  I don't think he should have to go back.  What do you think?