Iraq War Deserters Speak Out

By Paolo Pontoniere, Pacific News Service. Posted July 7, 2005.

Three young U.S. servicemen currently living in Canada explain why they refused to return to Iraq.

Jeremy Hinzman, 26

My name is Jeremy Hinzman. I was a specialist with the 82nd Airborne division.

I'm from South Dakota, from an area where there were not many jobs. I went through school believing that you got to be part of something bigger than yourself. I was also looking for structure and a sense of focus in my life. I didn't just want to make money; I wanted to do something meaningful, and the Army fit the bill on all of those accounts.