André Shepherd
 |
The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for biographies. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. (May 2010) |
| André Shepherd | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army (now deserted) |
| Years of service | 2004 - 2007 |
| Rank | Specialist |
| Unit | 601st Aviation Support Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
André Shepherd is a U.S. Army Specialist and deserter who applied for asylum in Germany on November 26, 2008. He is the first Iraq War veteran to pursue refugee status in Europe and only the second U.S. soldier to ever apply for refugee status in Germany.
Contents |
[edit] Background
After attending college Shepherd enlisted in the military early in 2004. He claims he was enticed by promises of financial security and international adventure.[1]
[edit] Service in Iraq
U.S Army 412 Aviation Support Battalion Specialist (E-4) Deployment: September 2004-February 2005
Shepherd became an Apache helicopter airframe mechanic, hoping to someday qualify up to the role of helicopter pilot. His first unit was deployed to Iraq when he completed his training. Shepherd spent six months on a forward operating base near Tikrit, working 12-hour days to keep the heavily armed Apaches (and their signature Hellfire missiles) in the air.[2]
[edit] Asylum Seeker in Germany
Shepherd decided that he could no longer support the war in Iraq. He felt he could not apply for conscientious objection because U.S. military regulations state a conscientious objector must have an objection to all war in all form. Shepherd's objection was not in opposition to all wars under any circumstances.[3]
On April 11, 2007 Shepherd went Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from his Katterbach base in Germany.[3]
Shepherd's application for asylum cites a European Union regulation providing refugee status to a soldier who is in danger of being prosecuted if military service "would include crimes or acts" which violate international law. The application refers to the Nuremberg Trials (also see Nuremberg Principles), stating "It is established that a person cannot defend his or her actions by explaining that they had simply been following orders."[4]
Shepherd stated on the grounds of his decision: “We should not be forced to fight an illegal war, nor should we be persecuted for refusing to do so” and “During the past five years we have waged a preemptive, internationally condemned war that was shown to be founded on a series of lies. After learning the truth about the nature of my military’s endeavors, I refuse to continue to be a part of this.” [5]
Shepherd's asylum application in effect asks Germany to define the war in Iraq as a violation of international law, which has led to opposition from some German politicians to the application, over worry that it could harm US–German relations.[6]
Has been working with the Iraq Veterans Against the War for the past few months and has been a part of Winter Soldier: Europe that took place in Germany on March 14, 2009. Videos of the event where posted to youtube by the IVAW.[7]
Shepherd has managed to do very well out of his decision to desert, saying in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, 'I'm having the time of my life!' He has been given his own bed and room at the refugee detention center, and has received numerous other perks such as a cell phone, free language lessons from an asylum support group and a bank account periodically filled by his supporters.[8]
The German printed Greenpeace magazine reported in its February 2009 edition about this asylum case.[9]
On April 4, 2011, the German government announced that it had denied Shepherd's asylum application.[10][11]
[edit] Honors
On February 7, 2009 André Shepherd was awarded with the Peace Prize "Peace through Conviction" [12] of the Munich American Peace Committee. The award was presented in the context of protest activities against the Munich Conference for Security Policy.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ André Sheperd Press Release from November 2008
- ^ http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/118396/
- ^ a b http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/081215-US-soldier-Germany-mc
- ^ http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/12/exclusiveawol_us_soldier_seeks_asylum_in
- ^ http://www.centeronconscience.org/donations/mcn.shtml
- ^ "Asylum dilemma for US deserter". BBC News. 2009-03-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7951403.stm.
- ^ http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/germany
- ^ Esterl, Mike (January 29, 2009). "U.S. Deserter 'Having Time of My Life' as He Seeks Asylum in Germany". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123318899887026687.html#articleTabs%3Darticle.
- ^ Greenpeace magazine, 02.09, André Sheperd beantragt als erster US-Deserteur in Deutschland politisches Asyl. page 15
- ^ "Kein Asyl für US-Soldat (press release)". Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge. April 4, 2011. http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2011/110404-0009-pressemitteilung-deserteur.html?nn=1366068.
- ^ "US deserter denied asylum in Germany". The Local. April 5, 2011. http://www.thelocal.de/article.php?ID=34197.
- ^ http://www.connection-ev.de/z.php?ID=534
[edit] External links
- Press releases, documents and links to news reports about André Shepherd on TPA-active.com
- Information about André Shepherd on the Military Counseling Networks
- How to Support André Shepherd through the connection e.V.
- Tübingen Progressive Americans - A local German group supporting André
- A look at the other side of André Shepherd's decision to apply for asylum in Germany
- Link to a law review article analyzing Shepherd's asylum application
