From Battlefield to Capitol Siege: Sgt. Aquilino Gonell’s Fight for Healing and Justice

Amid the deafening roar of a mob, U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell gripped his shield, his muscles straining against the crush of bodies at the U.S. Capitol’s west entrance. Shouts of anger and hatred filled the air as broken glass crunched beneath his boots, while debris flew past his face. Each wave of the assault felt heavier.

For six grueling hours, Gonell fought back against at least 40 people, enduring punches, bites, and blows from a flagpole, bat, and his own baton. At one point, he was pulled under the crowd and lost enough oxygen to where he thought he might die. He eventually managed to reach a tunnel inside the Capitol, where he continued the fight to prevent the mob from reaching the upper floors.

In those chaotic hours between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, Gonell’s battle wasn’t just to hold the line against insurrectionists—it was to hold himself together. Long after the riot had subsided, the flashbacks would jolt him awake in the dark of night, sweat drenching his sheets as the sounds of the mob echoed in his mind. The chaos of that day would open the door to memories he had tried to keep shut for years, reviving the buried trauma from his U.S. Army service in Iraq and plunging him into a mental health crisis that felt inescapable.

His memoir, American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy, will be released in paperback tied to this Veterans Day, November 11, after last year’s hardcover edition. According to a review from Booklist, the book is “the moving story of a man overcoming great adversity to become an exemplary citizen, only to suffer terrible injuries while defending the Constitution, democracy, and American freedom.” Gonell and his co-author, Susan Shapiro, a best-selling author of over 18 titles including The Bosnia List and Unhooked, will also speak on a November 11th panel at the NYU Bookstore along with other Veterans Day-linked appearances. (Info at his website.)

For Gonell, his story represents the American Dream. He considers himself the kind of immigrant this country claims to value: “Someone who assimilates, comes legally, becomes a productive member of society, who goes to war... and defends the United States Congress,” he said from his home in Virginia. Despite his dedication—from combat overseas to protecting democracy on January 6—his journey was marked by hardship, sacrifice, and a continuous fight for acceptance in the country he believed in.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Sgt. Gonell arrived in the U.S. as a 12-year-old boy in 1992, facing the harsh winter of Brooklyn with no English and little preparation. At age 21 in 1999, he joined the U.S. Army. In 2004, he was sent to fight in the Iraq War, stationed at the Balad Air Base. When he returned from Iraq, the scars from those days in combat left him struggling with the weight of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2006, he joined the U.S. Capitol Police, working there for 17 years to reclaim his life, focusing on healing and channeling his strength into his role as an officer.

Gonell recalled that during his two-year deployment in Iraq, “I had the perception of what an enemy might look like.” Yet nothing could have prepared him for the reality he faced on January 6. “Our citizens were attacking me, and I’m doing [my job] for [them].”

From his injuries that day, Gonell underwent bone fusion surgery to repair his right foot. He also required surgery on his shoulder to fix a rotator cuff repair. Still, it was the emotional toll that left the deepest scars.

“A lot of things have changed, and a lot of that changed me for the rest of my life,” he said. “It took away my tranquility. It took my health.” His career was another casualty. “I was slated to be a lieutenant, but I didn’t. I lost my career. I lost my financial stability. I lost friends, coworkers, [and my] sense of security.” Since then, he has struggled to regain a sense of normalcy.

Shapiro shed light on Gonell’s uphill journey before the events at the Capitol. “Sgt. Gonell came from nothing, had no money, and had to struggle his whole life,” she said. “He built himself up to a place where he was very proud and very happy in his life. He was about to get a promotion, was married with a kid, and had bought a big house.” His life’s trajectory had been one of steady progress, but January 6 changed everything. The injuries prevented him from meeting the physical requirements for the lieutenant promotion.

Gonell’s story resonates as a call to action for veterans and first responders to prioritize their mental health. For those who may hesitate to seek support, Gonell offers one simple piece of advice: Don’t wait.

His reluctance to address his PTSD after serving in Iraq prolonged his suffering, he says, urging others not to make the same mistake. “I came back from Iraq in 2006, and it took me many, many years to recognize that I did have a problem. I [would] always pass it along, saying ‘I’m okay.’ I kept things bottling up until I couldn’t anymore.”

Gonell’s candid reflections in American Shield lay bare his facing the darkest parts of himself. His story isn’t about heroism in the traditional sense; it’s about the raw, grinding courage it takes to admit you’re not okay and to reach out for a lifeline.