Agustin Aguayo: Difference between revisions
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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Aguayo is a U.S. citizen who was born in [[Guadalajara]], Mexico.<ref name=MSNBC2/> He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] in 2002 to earn money for his education.<ref name=MSNBC/> The following year, [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]] began. Aguayo was trained by the Army as a combat [[infantryman]]. After his advanced individual training he was stationed in Germany, and was soon deployed to the [[Middle East]].{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} |
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Though Aguayo was not anti-war at the time of his enlistment, he stated that he became anti-war as a result of his experiences in the Army. In February 2004, he applied for [[conscientious objector]] status, but was denied,<ref name=MSNBC2/> reportedly by a vote of two to one by the three-person panel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2007/5/17/war_resister_agustin_aguayo_speaks_out |title=War Resister Agustin Aguayo Speaks Out After his Release from Military Prison for Refusing to Fight in Iraq |author=Amy Goodman |date=May 17, 2007 |work=Democracy Now! |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> He was deployed to [[Tikrit]], where he served a year as a combat medic.<ref name=MSNBC/> In 2005, he sued in federal court to force the Army to recognize him as a conscientious objector, but his suit was denied.<ref name=MSNBC2/> |
Though Aguayo was not anti-war at the time of his enlistment, he stated that he became anti-war as a result of his experiences in the Army. In February 2004, he applied for [[conscientious objector]] status, but was denied,<ref name=MSNBC2/> reportedly by a vote of two to one by the three-person panel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2007/5/17/war_resister_agustin_aguayo_speaks_out |title=War Resister Agustin Aguayo Speaks Out After his Release from Military Prison for Refusing to Fight in Iraq |author=Amy Goodman |date=May 17, 2007 |work=Democracy Now! |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> He was deployed to [[Tikrit]], where he served a year as a combat medic.<ref name=MSNBC/> In 2005, he sued in federal court to force the Army to recognize him as a conscientious objector, but his suit was denied.<ref name=MSNBC2/> |
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== Imprisonment == |
== Imprisonment == |
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Aguayo was notified his unit would be returned to Iraq and instead missed his unit's movement to that theater of operations. When [[military police]] came to his home in [[Schweinfurt]], Germany on September 2, 2006, he climbed out of the bathroom window, going [[Desertion#Absence without leave|AWOL]] for 24 days. On September 27, he turned himself in at [[Fort Irwin]] in California, stating that "It is the right thing to do... I'm not a deserter or a coward."<ref name=MSNBC2>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15023658 |title=Soldier who refused Iraq tour turns himself in |date=September 27, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |work=NBC News |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> |
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On March 6, 2007, Aguayo was convicted of [[desertion]] by a court-martial in [[Würzburg]], Germany.<ref name=Spiegel/> He was given a sentence of only eight months' imprisonment, rather than the possible maximum of seven years. Aguayo told the court that "I tried my best, but I couldn’t bear weapons and I could never point weapons at someone."<ref name=MSNBC>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17486019 |title=Army medic found guilty of desertion |date=March 6, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |work=NBC News |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> An army prosecutor dismissed Aguyao's reasoning, stating, "His service was going to be important as a medic regardless of whether he was carrying a weapon or not."<ref name=MSNBC/> He was given a [[bad conduct discharge]] and his rank reduced to the lowest grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/06/us-germany-iraq-trial-idUSL0641427520070306 |title=U.S. medic gets 8 months jail for Iraq desertion |author=Catherine Hornby |date=March 6, 2007 |work=Reuters |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> Following his conviction, [[Amnesty International]] named Aguayo a [[prisoner of conscience]], arguing that he had taken "reasonable steps to secure release from the army" and that he was "imprisoned solely for his conscientious objection to participating in war".<ref name=AI/> |
On March 6, 2007, Aguayo was convicted of [[desertion]] by a court-martial in [[Würzburg]], Germany.<ref name=Spiegel/> He was given a sentence of only eight months' imprisonment, rather than the possible maximum of seven years. Aguayo told the court that "I tried my best, but I couldn’t bear weapons and I could never point weapons at someone."<ref name=MSNBC>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17486019 |title=Army medic found guilty of desertion |date=March 6, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |work=NBC News |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> An army prosecutor dismissed Aguyao's reasoning, stating, "His service was going to be important as a medic regardless of whether he was carrying a weapon or not."<ref name=MSNBC/> He was given a [[bad conduct discharge]] and his rank reduced to the lowest grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/06/us-germany-iraq-trial-idUSL0641427520070306 |title=U.S. medic gets 8 months jail for Iraq desertion |author=Catherine Hornby |date=March 6, 2007 |work=Reuters |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> Following his conviction, [[Amnesty International]] named Aguayo a [[prisoner of conscience]], arguing that he had taken "reasonable steps to secure release from the army" and that he was "imprisoned solely for his conscientious objection to participating in war".<ref name=AI/> |
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Revision as of 08:11, 5 March 2021
Agustín Aguayo | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Augie |
| Born | c. 1971 Guadalajara, Mexico |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 2002 – 2007 |
| Rank | Specialist (reduced to Private after court-martial) |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War |
| Awards | National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal |
| Other work | Conscientious Objector Advocate |
Agustín Aguayo (born c. 1971) is a veteran of the Iraq War. After several failed attempts to attain conscientious objector status, he deserted his unit in Germany in September 2006 to avoid redeployment to Iraq. He was convicted of desertion by a court martial March 6, 2007 and served six months in prison. His trial led Amnesty International to declare him a prisoner of conscience,[1] and made him a hero to the American and European anti-war movements.[2]
Background
Aguayo is a U.S. citizen who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico.[3] He enlisted in the United States Army in 2002 to earn money for his education.[4] The following year, Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Aguayo was trained by the Army as a combat infantryman. After his advanced individual training he was stationed in Germany, and was soon deployed to the Middle East.[citation needed]
Though Aguayo was not anti-war at the time of his enlistment, he stated that he became anti-war as a result of his experiences in the Army. In February 2004, he applied for conscientious objector status, but was denied,[3] reportedly by a vote of two to one by the three-person panel.[5] He was deployed to Tikrit, where he served a year as a combat medic.[4] In 2005, he sued in federal court to force the Army to recognize him as a conscientious objector, but his suit was denied.[3]
Imprisonment
Aguayo was notified his unit would be returned to Iraq and instead missed his unit's movement to that theater of operations. When military police came to his home in Schweinfurt, Germany on September 2, 2006, he climbed out of the bathroom window, going AWOL for 24 days. On September 27, he turned himself in at Fort Irwin in California, stating that "It is the right thing to do... I'm not a deserter or a coward."[3]
On March 6, 2007, Aguayo was convicted of desertion by a court-martial in Würzburg, Germany.[2] He was given a sentence of only eight months' imprisonment, rather than the possible maximum of seven years. Aguayo told the court that "I tried my best, but I couldn’t bear weapons and I could never point weapons at someone."[4] An army prosecutor dismissed Aguyao's reasoning, stating, "His service was going to be important as a medic regardless of whether he was carrying a weapon or not."[4] He was given a bad conduct discharge and his rank reduced to the lowest grade.[6] Following his conviction, Amnesty International named Aguayo a prisoner of conscience, arguing that he had taken "reasonable steps to secure release from the army" and that he was "imprisoned solely for his conscientious objection to participating in war".[1]
Release and activism
As Aguayo had already served 161 days in prison, he was released on April 18. He then returned to his family in Los Angeles.[7] On his return, he spoke of his experiences before an audience of antiwar activists, who gave him what the Los Angeles Times described as "a hero's welcome".[8] Der Spiegel also described him as a "hero" to the US and European anti-war movements as a result of his trial.[2] Aguayo began a speaking campaign at U.S. schools, describing his activities by saying, "I want to bring young people awareness. We ask them to sacrifice so much yet we don't educate them about the realities of war."[9] He was awarded the Stuttgart peace prize in December 2007.[9][10]
Family
Aguayo has a wife, Helga Aguayo, and two daughters.[9]
See also
- Stephen Funk
- List of Iraq War Resisters
- Nuremberg Principles (Principle IV)
References
- ^ a b "UA 60/07 Prisoner of conscience: USA Agustín Aguayo". Amnesty International. March 8, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c Charles Hawley (March 6, 2007). "Aguayo Follows His Conscience to the Brig". Der Spiegel. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Soldier who refused Iraq tour turns himself in". NBC News. Associated Press. September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Army medic found guilty of desertion". NBC News. Associated Press. March 6, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Amy Goodman (May 17, 2007). "War Resister Agustin Aguayo Speaks Out After his Release from Military Prison for Refusing to Fight in Iraq". Democracy Now!. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Catherine Hornby (March 6, 2007). "U.S. medic gets 8 months jail for Iraq desertion". Reuters. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Mark St. Clair (May 10, 2007). "After jail stint, deserter Aguayo returning to L.A." Stars and Stripes. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Stuart Silverstein (July 23, 2007). "War resister gets a hero's welcome". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c Madeline Chambers (December 17, 2007). "Army deserter wants to change recruitment". Reuters. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "English Information about Stuttgart Peace Price and Die AnStifter". Stuttgarter Friedenspreis der AnStifter. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.