Combat Medic listed as AWOL turned himself in

Army Specialist Catalino Rodriguez of Aberdeen, Md.,Turns Himself In After Being AWOL For Two Years
Written by
Surae Chinn
WUSA9.com
Aug 9, 2012

BETHESDA, Md. (WUSA) -- An Aberdeen, Maryland soldier who went AWOL (Away Without Leave) two years ago has decided to turn himself in.

Army Specialist Catalino Rodriguez says he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD and major depression. He has emerged from hiding in his mother's basement.

"It's a nightmare. A two year nightmare. I don't want to do this anymore," he said.

He said he fell into a dark place after a 15 month deployment as a combat medic in Iraq.

He further spiraled into mental illness when he learned he would be deployed to Afghanistan.

"I felt the demons that were in my head," he said. "I felt I was not prepared to go to Afghanistan. Being a medic, I was fearful of my personal demons getting in the way in how I would treat a battle buddy."

He sought help, but he says the military's solution only masked the problem.

"The only thing they gave me was medication, medication, medication," Rodriquez said.
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