American Shield
The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy
-
-
5.0 • 4 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
Finalist for the American Book Fest Best Book Awards
“American Shield is an all-American tale of duty and determination—beautifully told by an immigrant, a veteran, and a patriot.” —Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita of the United States House of Representatives
Set against the extraordinary events of January 6, 2021, Aquilino Gonell’s inspirational memoir is rooted in the joys and struggles of the immigrant experience that have long defined the American experiment
Aquilino Gonell came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a young boy. Although he spoke no English, he dedicated himself to his adopted land, striving for the American dream. Determined to be a success story, he joined the army to pay for college. He saw action in Iraq and returned home with PTSD. Believing in the promise of our government, he focused on healing himself and supporting his family. His hard work paid off when he landed a coveted position with the United States Capitol Police and rose to the rank of sergeant.
January 6, 2021, changed everything. When insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, Gonell bravely faced down the mob attempting to thwart the peaceful transfer of power. The brutal injuries he sustained that day would end his career in law enforcement. But when some of the very people he put his life on the line to protect downplayed or denied the truth of that day, he chose to speak out against the injustice done to him and the country. Chronicling what it means to live a life of conviction, one that adheres to the best ideas of our democracy, American Shield is a bold testament to the power of truth, justice, and accountability from a highly decorated officer and immigrant who exemplifies the greatest aspirations of a grateful nation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this stirring debut, former United States Capitol Police officer Gonell details his hardscrabble upbringing and his harrowing experiences during the January 6 insurrection. Gonell grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic with his mother and two siblings. After Gonell's mother moved the family to Brooklyn, N.Y., when he was a teenager, he became the first member of his family to graduate from high school, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve to help fund his college ambitions. 9/11 interrupted his plans, and in 2002, Gonell was deployed to Iraq, where he incurred PTSD. After returning to the U.S. and working a string of unsatisfying security jobs, Gonell joined the Capitol Police in 2006. Eventually, he was put in charge of a squad in the Civil Disturbance Unit. It was in that capacity that he squared off against would-be insurrectionists on January 6, suffering multiple injuries and a PTSD flare-up during the struggle. Gonell describes the calamity in goosebump-inducing detail and is refreshingly candid in his disparagement of the attackers who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. This dispatch from the front lines of America's political polarization grips. Agents: Meg Thompson and Samantha Wekstein, Thompson Literary.
Customer Reviews
Brave and Disillusioned
This book is both inspiring and very sad. It is a compelling book and a very quick read. It makes me angry and determined most of all. You won’t regret taking the time to read this soldier’s account of what happened to him and to all of us J6.
Outstanding Fiction
One of the best faux accounts of what happened Jan. 6th. Absolutely made up account of a traumatic beating of a law enforcement officer that never took place. Did the mention he was an immigrant…… Oh yes they did for Liberal Lemming effect. Marx, Goebbels, and the Clintons give this masterpiece rave reviews. This in no way matches up with the video of what actually happened on Jan 6th.