AWOL Soldier Surrenders at Army Base

[Judi Lynn]

Sep 26, 9:45 PM EDT

AWOL Soldier Surrenders at Army Base

By ROBERT JABLON
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An Army medic who fled rather than serve a second tour in Iraq because he believes war is immoral turned himself in Tuesday to face a possible court-martial.

Army Spec. Agustin Aguayo, 34, turned himself in around 6 p.m. at Fort Irwin, an Army base in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles, said Army spokesman Ken Drylie.

"It is the right thing to do," said Aguayo at a news conference in Los Angeles hours before going to the base. "I'm not a deserter or a coward."

Aguayo said he expected to face a court martial and some jail time.

"It's something I can live with," he said. "Something I can't live with is being a participant of war anymore."
(snip/...)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AWOL_SOLDIER?SITE=FLPLA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[mike_c]

1. Aguayo is a hero and a patriot....

:patriot:

[Dogmudgeon]

2. He should have jointed the Texas Air National Guard

And had a rich father.

And no conscience.

Or soul.

I wish Mr. Aguayo well and I hope the court martial recognizes his courage.

--p!

[tocqueville]

3. for a moment I believed that George had turned himself in

after a "religious experience" caused by alcohol induced delirium

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Ka-ching!

That was a million-dollar reply.

Too bad I've only got $24.17...

[uppityperson]

4. Good for him, I hope he gets to stay in jail, not get forced to Iraq

like they had threatened. And I hope his CO thing goes through this time.