DurableTear Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 Credit: CNN Soldier who refused to return to Iraq reported to his unit Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Posted: 1:33 PM EST (1833 GMT) NORTH MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- A U.S. soldier who refused to return to Iraq after he was shaken by a gunfight that killed innocent civilians reported to his unit Tuesday in preparation for seeking conscientious objector status. Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia walked into the building housing his Florida National Guard unit at the North Miami Armory after repeating his determination not to return to the Middle East and fight. "I'm prepared to go to prison because I'll have a clear conscience," Mejia said. Mejia, 28, of Miami Beach, was in Iraq for about five months last year until October, when he returned home on leave. He did not return to duty. He surrendered Monday at an Air Force base in Massachusetts and was ordered to return to Florida and report to his unit, the 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida National Guard. "This is an oil-driven war, and I don't think any soldier signs up to fight for oil," Mejia said Monday after arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Mejia was accompanied to the armory by his mother, an aunt and Spc. Oliver Perez, who served with him. Perez said Mejia is "a brave leader" and should not be prosecuted. "I fought next to him in many battles. He is not a coward," Perez said. Mejia's attorney, Louis Font, said he believes Mejia is the first soldier to turn himself in after refusing to return to Iraq. Mejia said he would seek conscientious objector status. In Iraq on Tuesday, officials said two other soldiers were seeking objector status there. Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, a Florida National Guard spokesman, said Mejia would likely be sent to Fort Stewart, Georgia, to meet with a military legal services team. Mejia said he was particularly upset over an incident in Iraq in which he and others were ambushed and innocent civilians were hit in the ensuing gunfire. A native of Nicaragua, Mejia is a permanent resident of the United States who served in the Army for three years. He had served in the National Guard for five years when his unit was called to active duty. In civilian life, he was a psychology student at the University of Miami. Mejia said he joined the military upon his arrival in the United States so he could work his way into American society. He could not say whether he might be deported because of his refusal to serve, but said "whatever sacrifice I have to make, I have to go there." Meanwhile, in Iraq, a commander said two U.S. Army medics there have applied for conscientious objector status. Capt. Todd Grissom said the two, both privates first class, notified the Army of their request on February 9, the day before their Germany-based 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment deployed to Iraq. The two want to be honorably discharged from the military because the idea of killing is "revolting" to them, Grissom said Tuesday. Grissom would not identify the two soldiers, saying only that they come from California and Illinois. Their requests were being investigated, he said. Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanleylicious Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 The man has a lot of balls to stand up for what is right I hope other soldiers follow his lead. good for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarHeel324 Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 man i sure hope no one else does this if you sign up for the army, you need to follow through on your commitments. if you dont want to fight, dont join the armed forces that being said, yeah he has major balls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Fillet Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 The man has a lot of balls to stand up for what is right I hope other soldiers follow his lead. good for him. Screw that... This guy needs to fry..... Put him on the business end of a firing squad. Insubordination and dereliction of duty are paramount to treason. I'm also guessing he didn't have the same moral objections to the armed forces when he was cashing in on the pay, bennies and GI bill during peacetime. Wonder if he's cry out as a conscientious objector if he was stationed in Germany the last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamrock Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 The man has a lot of balls to stand up for what is right I hope other soldiers follow his lead. good for him. Screw that... This guy needs to fry..... Put him on the business end of a firing squad. Insubordination and dereliction of duty are paramount to treason. I'm also guessing he didn't have the same moral objections to the armed forces when he was cashing in on the pay, bennies and GI bill during peacetime. Wonder if he's cry out as a conscientious objector if he was stationed in Germany the last year. :confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Fillet Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 The only reason issues like this come up where some soldier wants out is because the military has been allowed to market itself for what it isn't supposed to be. Since Congress allowed the military to pay for marketing young people have been targeted in advertisments during televised sporting events, concerts, etc... Being told that the military is some kind of viable option to those who were too poor, dumb, unmotivated,etc. to go to college and that the military is a place for rock climbing, adventure, seeing the world, learning "job skills" and where one can earn cash fr college. Funny thing is, they never mention that little detail about what war is, and that they'll actually have to kill if one should occur. And I can't think of a demographic that is more ignorant and vulnerable than the good ol 18-23 american male. But ignorance is not an excuse. Joining the military and then complaining about having to participate in violent acts is like buying a car and then complaining it can go over 65MPH. Like I said, fry 'em. He wouldn't be giving the money back if he was enrolled in college right now on the GI bill. And you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll still want the miitary bennies like the GI Bill after some bleeding-heart liberal gets done hugging trees and lets him off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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