Florida National Guard Sergeant, 32, served 6 months in Iraq in 2003. He became the first US combat veteran to publicly refuse to redeploy to Iraq. In Iraq, Mejia witnessed detainees being tortured and abused by US troops under the direction of American civilian contract employees. He later served 9 months in prison for desertion and was released in February 2005. In August 2007 he was elected Chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
He is author of a new book about his experience, “The Road from ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Camilo Mejia.”
“I fully support the right of US military personnel who, in acts of conscience, refuse to go to a war of aggression, a war crime. … I proudly support those who take such a stand.”
