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"By putting my weapon down, I chose to reassert myself as a human being. Let us collectively, free our minds, soften our hearts, comfort the wounded, put down our weapons and reassert ourselves as human beings by putting an end to war." - CAMILO MEJIA

CAMILO MEJIA, an immigrant from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, joined the Army for educational benefits serving four years active duty during which he was decorated and promoted. While serving in Iraq with the Florida National Guard, he witnessed civilian deaths and knew of prisoner abuse. On leave, he went AWOL rather than return to Iraq - five months later, he turned himself in to call attention to U.S. policies. At his court martial he was not allowed to present the motivation for his actions in his defense. Camilo served nine months of a year-long sentence in military prison for desertion.

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Camilo Mejía was born in 1975, the son of prominent Sandinista revolutionaries.  He grew up in Nicaragua and Costa Rica before moving to the United States with his family in 1994. Mejía served as an infantryman in the active-duty army from 1995 to 1998 before transferring to the Florida National Guard. His contract with the National Guard was to end in May 2003, but he was stop-lossed and sent to The Middle East. He spent five months in combat in Iraq before refusing to return after a two week furlough in Miami. On May 21, 2004 he was sentenced to one year in prison for refusing to return to the fighting.

Mejía is a vegetarian and the proud father of a seven-year-old daughter. He currently lives in Miami.