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In reply to the discussion: A wild Civil War story for you all [View all]stuck in the middle
(821 posts)22. "Life is hard"
A Former Girl Soldier in Colombia Finds Life Is Hard as a Civilian
The New York Times
April 27, 2016
CALDAS, Colombia Mélida was only 9 when guerrilla fighters lured her away with the promise of food as she played on the floor. For the next seven years she was held hostage by the rebels, forced to become a child soldier.
Her family thought she had died in battle. Then Mélida suddenly returned to her village at 16, carrying a pistol and a grenade. Only her grandfather recognized her from a birthmark on her cheek.
The very next day, the military surrounded her house, called by an informant seeking the bounty on her head.
I found out my own father had turned me in, she recalled.
snip--- (video at link)
(Gifted article, no subscription necessary)
Link to article
Leonor González Mina - Violencia (en vivo) - Teatro Colón
Fragmentos (english subtitles)
Museo Nacional de Colombia
The New York Times
April 27, 2016
CALDAS, Colombia Mélida was only 9 when guerrilla fighters lured her away with the promise of food as she played on the floor. For the next seven years she was held hostage by the rebels, forced to become a child soldier.
Her family thought she had died in battle. Then Mélida suddenly returned to her village at 16, carrying a pistol and a grenade. Only her grandfather recognized her from a birthmark on her cheek.
The very next day, the military surrounded her house, called by an informant seeking the bounty on her head.
I found out my own father had turned me in, she recalled.
snip--- (video at link)
(Gifted article, no subscription necessary)
Link to article
Leonor González Mina - Violencia (en vivo) - Teatro Colón
Fragmentos (english subtitles)
Museo Nacional de Colombia
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9 year old in the line of fire of artillery shells?? Child labor laws have advanced a tad, now the
Alexander Of Assyria
Aug 2023
#2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_soldiers_in_the_American_Civil_War FYI
Playingmantis
Aug 2023
#23
Interesting story. I don't think I have heard this one before. Thanks for posting.
LoisB
Aug 2023
#6
I'd heard of him before, for a library program I put together called Kid History.
intheflow
Aug 2023
#10
Then there is the movie about the 12 year old who enlisted in the navy during We2.
3Hotdogs
Aug 2023
#16
The last Civil War widow died in 2020. We are probably down to a handful of people
brewens
Aug 2023
#15
Some vets also wanted to pass along their pension which could have been of help, just sayin.
appalachiablue
Aug 2023
#34
The Civil War was 40-50 years before anyone thought seriously about child labor laws.
intheflow
Aug 2023
#36