The Deserter's Tale The Conscience of One Soldier

"The Deserter's Tale" starts out as an all too typical account of a young man growing up poor in Oklahoma and later joining the Army in the hope of building a better life for his family.

Like so many other young men and women, Joshua Key was afire with patriotism during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, believing that Saddam Hussein was a threat to America. His motivation for joining the Army, however, was a pressing need for steady employment. Married with two children and a third on the way, Key had no interest in going to Iraq. His recruiter assured him that he would never be sent overseas, and would be assigned to a non-combat unit within the continental U.S. The recruiter even went so far as to put this provision in Key's contract.

Key, who scored 49 out of 99 on the Army's aptitude test, was told by his recruiter not to mention an existing medical condition, prior arrests and number of children. With his application thus fabricated, Key became a soldier.

Shortly after completing basic training, however-where he was encouraged during bayonet practice with cries of "kill the sand niggers"--Key discovered that he would indeed be sent to Iraq, despite the terms of his contract. After being punished for objecting to the violation of his contract, Key shipped out to Iraq.

The story of Key's experience in Iraq is, unfortunately, typical of those of other soldiers. Key tells of food, water and armor shortages, of fruitless raids, wherein soldiers destroyed homes, arrested men and stole everything they could get their hands on. Worst of all, he tells of the abuse and murder of civilians, including children, admitting that he too took part in these criminal acts.

The images presented by Key of the rape of an entire family of women as officers looked on, and of soldiers playing football with the decapitated heads of murdered Iraqis are haunting. But more than an account of wartime atrocities, Key's tale is an indictment of those in command who turn a blind eye to the crimes of those in their charge and punish those who dare to speak up and of the "poverty draft" that lures the most desperate of young people into serving as cannon fodder.

Up to this point, Key's story is characteristic of the accounts of many soldiers serving in Iraq. Key's tale takes an uncharacteristic turn, however, when he is granted a two-week vacation to return to the U.S. and visit his family.

Stricken with nightmares and flashbacks and tormented by his conscience, Key knew he could not return to Iraq. Seeking the advice of an Army lawyer, Key was told "get back to Iraq or you go to jail." With no viable alternative, Key packed up his family and went into hiding. Eventually, they made it to Canada where Key awaits a decision by the Canadian courts as to whether he will be granted refugee status.

Although Key's story is in many ways typical of the war stories of soldiers in wars from World War I to Viet Nam, his is also the unusual story of a young man willing to act according to his conscience, no matter the consequences.

"The Deserter's Tale"

Joshua Key as told to Lawrence Hill

Atlantic Monthly Press, NY 2007