Soldier shoots himself to avoid Iraq

[Kadie]

Soldier shoots himself to avoid Iraq
2 hours, 1 minute ago


NEW YORK - A soldier who recently returned from Iraq has admitted he paid someone $500 to shoot him in the leg so he could avoid returning for another tour.

Jonathan Aponte, 20, claimed he had been robbed and shot but changed his story when police questioned him, authorities said. Aponte, who was facing another eight-month tour, had been scheduled to leave last Monday.

"As far as being shot at every day, I think it's better," Aponte told WCBS-TV in an interview that aired Friday. "Mentally I can't do it anymore. I can't handle it anymore."

Aponte was charged with conspiracy and falsely reporting an incident, according to the criminal complaint.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_re_us/soldier_shooting_1

[UTUSN]

1. Similar: an AWOL g.i. (5 days) robbed a convenience store &

he was in FULL camophlage uniform, with video cams on him. Then, at arraignment, his wife and mother were crying and said he did it because he was afraid of going to Iraq. Sad.

[oldtime dfl_er]

2. I remember the various ways

my male friends got themselves dismissed from duty during Vietnam. One starved himself down to 110 pounds. Another shot off his own toe.

Desperate times, desperate measures.


http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/658059

[CoffeeCat]

3. Wow, you don't have to go to war...

...if you weigh under 110 pounds?

No wonder we never see any runway models on the front lines.

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. If you're a six foot tall male

then 110 is emaciated

[Cha]

4. OMG! If he can't stand

up to questioning by the Po-lice..how's he gonna make it in those Killing Fields?

Twenty years old and desperate..god how I can relate from another life time ago.