Impact of War: Guererro Azteca Peace Project

By: Levi Martinez

Posted: 4/29/08

April 24, 2008 -- Cal State San Marcos held guest speaker Fernando Suarez del Solar who was invited by the National Latino Research Center, MEChA, and the Women's Studies Club. The issue was the local impact of war on Latino youth. Various students crowded Academic Hall to listen to Fernando speak about his experiences with the armed forces, how recruitment affects Latino's throughout the San Diego area and the tragic loss of his son as a Marine.

The movement that Fernando started is known as the Guerrero Azteca Peace Project (Aztec Warrior), it is comprised of ten members and Fernando does not look to recruit members but rather distribute the message that brings awareness to how the Army and other branches recruit the Hispanic and African American communities in a substantial amount as opposed to schools which are primarily white. Fernando has been traveling for the past five years, preaching peace and spreading the message to young students who belong to minority groups. His message is simple: recruiters are deliberately going to low income high schools trying to recruit kids which may not be thinking of attending college while making false promises.

During one interview with a recruiter, Fernando asked whether the recruiter would recommend the armed forces to his or her children, the recruiter responded saying "no, my child doesn't need to, they have other opportunities".

Fernando's son, Jesus Suarez, was approached by a Marine recruiter at the age of 15. Fernando was convinced that the best route in joining the Police force (Narcotics Department) would be through enlisting in the Marines and doing his civic duty, and at the end of his four years, he would have a strong enough resume to apply to the academy. The recruiter painted a nice picture, saying that his son would only serve one year on tour. Jesus spent two years requesting his father's permission. Fernando finally gave in, and in his own words said "a father must support his sons decisions" when interviewed after his presentation. Jesus was told to transfer to a chartered high school in order to go directly to book camp after graduation. Although he was 17 and a half years old, he was still able to sign a four year commitment.

Fernando said that he found it ironic how much this nation is against illegal immigration, though when it comes to the armed forces, there is no need to be an American Citizen to enroll -- this was the case with his son. After boot camp, the family drove down to Mexico to celebrate their son's accomplishment because Jesus was of illegal age to drink according to California Law.

On the day of his departure to Iraq, Jesus requested that the family stay home and that he and his father be the only ones who go the airport. Fernando cried as his son departed, and Jesus told his father "I'm going to help the children out there." To Fernando, his son Jesus was the world, he was not an amazing child at school but at the same time he was no trouble maker. He was, as Fernando put it, "average to the eyes of everyone else."

On March 27, 2003 -- Fernando received the call that every parent dreads -- his son died in Iraq. The Marines told him that he died in combat and was shot in the head. Fernando was heart broken. According to Fernando's website, a few days after his son's death, he received a call from Bob Woodruff, an anchorman for ABC, telling him that there was another story of how his son died. Fernando was told his son died "by friendly fire, stepping accidentally on a piece of explosive artillery, a piece of artillery that is illegal in any war, a cluster bomb that is illegal according to the Geneva Convention and the United Nations." Fernando has not yet received a response from the Marines.