# American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy - Hardcover

by **Aquilino Gonell** (Author), **Susan Shapiro** (Author), **Jamie Raskin** (Foreword by)

**"_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.

### Author Biography

**AQUILINO GONELL** is a Dominican immigrant, former U.S. Army soldier, and Iraq War veteran. For seventeen years, he was a United States Capitol Police officer and was one of four police officers who testified before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. He's been featured on ABC, CBS, CNN, Telemundo, Univision, and NPR, and in _The New York Times_, _The Washington Post_, and _El Diario_. He is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Citizens Medal.

**SUSAN SHAPIRO** is an award-winning Jewish American journalist. She's the author/coauthor of the acclaimed nonfiction books _Unhooked_ (a _New York Times_ bestseller), _The Forgiveness Tour_ (a Jewish Book Council pick), _The Bosnia List_ (an Oprah book of the Week, ASJA award winner and William Saroyan Nonfiction finalist ) and _World In Between_ (A Notable Book for Global Society.) She writes for _The New York Time_s, _New York Magazine_, _Wall Street Journal_, _The Washington Post_, and _Newsweek_, among others.

**Number of Pages:** 240

**Dimensions:** 1 x 9.1 x 6.3 IN

**Publication Date:** November 07, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 28.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 28.00 USD | In stock |

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- American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy - Hardcover

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