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Monday, Mar. 15, 2004

Accompanied by his lawyer, Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, 28, surrendered at the base's gate to two military police officers, who drove him away.

A crowd of peace activists cheered Mejia and shouted encouragement: "We love you!" "Go with God!"

Mejia was in Iraq from March until October last year, when he returned home on leave. He did not return to duty.

"I am saying no to war. I have chosen peace," Mejia said earlier at a news conference at Sherborn arranged by anti-war activists. "I went to Iraq and was an instrument of violence, and now I have decided to become an instrument of peace."

Mejia's lawyer, Louis Font, said he believed Mejia was the first soldier to turn himself in after refusing to return to Iraq.

"I have not committed a crime, and I should not run," Mejia said.

Never Objected to Payday

Font said Mejia would seek an administrative discharge from the Army based on his being a conscientious objector. Font said his client had never received official notification that he was considered absent without leave.

Mejia began a 14-day leave on Oct. 1 and was supposed to return on Oct. 16. Font said Mejia spent much of the time since living in New York City.

He said he was particularly upset over an incident in which, he said, he and others were ambushed and innocent civilians were hit in the ensuing gunfire.

A native of Nicaragua, Mejia is a permanent resident of the United States who served in the Army for three years. He had served in the National Guard for five years when his unit was called to active duty. In civilian life, he was a student at the University of Miami.

Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, a spokesman for the Florida National Guard, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Editor's note: