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Soldier Jonathan Aponte is facing criminal charges of conspiracy and falsely reporting an incident after admitting that he hired a hit man to shoot him. Why did he hire a hit man? Because Aponte didn't want to return to Iraq.
The 20-year-old Bronx resident, his wife Alexandra Gonzalez, and the "hitman," Felix Padilla, all face jail time for the plot. Aponte had apparently joked that he wanted to get shot in the leg to avoid returning to Iraq. From the AP:
But his wife took the off-the-cuff remark seriously, and said she knew a man named Felix who could do the job.The hospital's doctors and nurses questioned Aponte when he came in for the gunshot wound, and that's when the plot was revealed. Aponte told the Daily News, "I have nightmares all the time. I hear people screaming, gunshots, explosions, and I can smell burning flesh in my dreams... I was desperate to stay home and at the end of my rope. couldn't deal with being in Iraq anymore. Would I risk going to prison? As far as being shot at, I think it's better." He also mentioned that on his first day, a female sergeant killed herself in the mess hall."I decided I wasn't going to go back, one way or another," he said.
Early Monday morning, the pair met with the man, who agreed to do the job for $500.
"I smoked a cigarette and kept my eyes closed because I did not want to see it coming," Aponte told an investigator. "Next think I knew I was shot in the knee."
WCBS 2 interviewed Aponte - you can see the video here - and he emphasized how he felt very desperate. His mother said he has post-traumatic stress disorder, "He was asking for help, but we didn't know what he was asking for. We didn't understand."
Aponte and Gonzalez were released under their own recognizance. The military is reportedly working with Aponte to evaluate his mental health and whether he should be sent back to Iraq.
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Gawd! A little proofreading, PLEASE!
Apparently, it's your first time here #1.
this guy should be tried for treason.
This guy is mental-I really doubt a female Sgt blasted herself in the mess hall-we might have heard of that.
Suicide in Iraq among US soldiers are not rare:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-13-army-suicides-usat_x.htm
But detailed coverage of them is.
The Jonathan Aponte story is very sad.
Very sad story. Still...illegal more ways than one. Its his own fault - he should have thought of these things before he signed up.
not uncommon at all, stewie and brian tried to shoot each other to get out of iraq.
GoD speed to you mr. aponte, there are many here who are behind you. You do what you have to do to refuse to serve this ILLEGAL war started on LIES.
God BlEss you and your family. We are behind you one hundred percent.
#1 - You spelled God incorrectly.
Brave enough to get shot here but not to stand with his comrades in Iraq?
I don't see the word brave mentioned but yes, he is brave to refuse to fight in an unjust war brought on by lies.
We are behind you one hundred percent mr. aponte,
you fight the GOOD fight, not a false war.
GET ALL US TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ, NOW!
I don't blame Mr. Aponte one bit. Not a bit.
The military is reportedly working with Aponte to evaluate his mental health and whether he should be sent back to Iraq.
If hiring someone to shoot him isn't enough to warrant not sending him back then our military is in worse shape than I'd ever imagined.
"Suicide in Iraq among US soldiers are not rare:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-13-army-suicides-usat_x.htm
But detailed coverage of them is.
The Jonathan Aponte story is very sad.
[5] Posted by: guest | July 14, 2007 9:55 PM"
The article you sited is fairly poorly written, it says the Army suicide rate is 13 per 100,000 people, which it claims is the national average. Googling a bit seems to indicate the average is 17.6 per 100,000.
Therefore-if the article used accurate info about the Army suicide rate in Iraq; the suicide rate their is LOWER than the peactime Army rate-which is LOWER than the general population.
Which means yes IT IS RARE! Sorry you're wrong. In any case, their are easier ways to get out of a deployment, especially if you've already been out. Aponte is mentally ill, or has created this plot after the fact. He is someone the military doesn't want.
Something generally forgotten is that the US military generally has fewer people committing suicide then the US general population and the military is better educated-but I wouldn't expect USA Today to know this.
"I don't see the word brave mentioned but yes, he is brave to refuse to fight in an unjust war brought on by lies."
Well not lies-poor intelligence. Of course I guess you think shutting down Saddam's rape rooms and torture chambers was unjust correct?!? Or you think it's unjust now to prevent genocide?!? Hmmmmmmmmmmm
"We are behind you one hundred percent mr. aponte"
You are 100% behind the mentally ill!
We went to war on Lies and bad intel and more lies.
I am 110 percent behind you mr. aponte,
perhaps you'll understand my sports speak
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I got your rape room right here, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
You likee rape, don't you?
edEx & guest #9, i take it you two blog on gothamist from iraq? being the upstanding patriots you are.
Not much of a choice. Not much difference between being in prison and being in Iraq. He'd be in either place against his will. And at least in prison, he doesn't have to worry about IEDs and snipers every day.
Yet another creative way to get out of Iraq !I just wish these "Creative" idea's were derived by our Government ! I have to applaud this soldier's efforts . He made a concise decision that he would not return to the battle field . The fact that he was willing to hire someone to shoot him, Well that just illustrates that something is terribly wrong in the Middle East . Posted by; "Still Not Amused"
Aponte claimd that he was kicking in doors, saw tons of dead bodies, smelled burning flesh and his mind could not take it anymore.... Well, in fact if you have heard about this, DO NOT feel bad for him. In fact, the only dead bodies that he saw over here were in video games and movies that he watched all day long sittin in a thick cement locked down arms room. The only flesh he might have smelled burning, is his own if he burned himself with a cigarrete. The only door that he might have kicked in, would be his own, if he ever lost his room key. Do you know how many people feel bad about this soldier and have sympathy for him?? Its extremely upsetting. How do I know anything about this particular soldier, and what he did in Iraq. Well, if you didn't hear any part of the unit, he is in my unit, my company at that. He is full of it. His story is nothing but lies. I saw that guy everyday and he never even came close to leaving the base. Well, I just thought I would share my piece of mind about the lack of integrity of this soldier. Pass this to everyone, whoever you have in your address box so we can get the word out so people can stop feeling bad for him. He was in AIR CAV for crying out loud. The apaches do all the work.
I don't know about this particular soldier (and whether or not the commenter above me is telling the truth) but my brother in law served in iraq and was witness to suicides, he even had to be on suicide watch for one of his friends.
As for my "posting my useless opinion on the internet" comment - all war is unjust.
Just to add in with my previous comment, I am not just a commenter, I am a soldier in his unit, as well as I am speakin on behalf of every soldier in my motorpool that worked beside him as well. Aponte did not witness anything, except how good he got at playin his video games.
You are 100% behind the mentally ill!
Yes, I am. Mental illness is a disease, not a crime.
I do not claim to know anything about this particular soldier or his story. However, the italicized statement above, made by a guest poster, implies that the mentally ill in general do not need support and compassion. I find that attitude sickening.
citychik-That was in the context that someone suggested we should support the political agenda of the mentally ill. That people who have snapped are great decision makers.
If you didn't understand that-well I think you need to read the whole thing thru. The mentally ill do need support, but it's obvious that an individual who is mentally ill-shouldn't be making life or death decisions.
Do not assume that I do not understand the point of these comments. I followed the conversation, and found the negative comment regarding the mentally ill, which was posted by one "guest" in particular, quite distasteful. Until a mentally ill person becomes a danger to themselves or others, their individual freedoms and right to decide how to live their lives is protected. If and when someone suffering with such an illness does "snap," they need our compassion all the more. Again, I am not commenting on Mr. Aponte's situation, but to a specific response made by that guest poster. It seems that my perspective is one which you do not understand.
Why does the hitman always have to be named "Felix?" But seriously, if you are in the military- you signed up to fight for the country. Whether that be right or wrong in different scenarios- it is a matter of fact. Yes this guy has some deep-rooted problems.