Scott Camil

Scott Camil (born May 19, 1946) is an American political activist. He first gained prominence as an opponent of the Vietnam War, as a witness in the Winter Soldier Investigation and a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Camil was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents with origins in Romania and Russia. His parents were divorced when he was four years old. His mother remarried and he, his mother, stepfather and sister moved to Florida, where two stepbrothers were born. Camil had a troubled childhood, frequently being beaten by his authoritarian stepfather and occasionally getting into fights with school children who would harass him because he was Jewish. He was brought up to believe he lived in the best country in the world and that, as a citizen, he had a duty as a male to go into the military to serve his country after high school. He enrolled in the Marines delayed enlistment program while still in high school and entered boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island three days after graduating. He served with the Marines from 1965 to 1969, earning two Purple Hearts, Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf and Vietnam Campaign Medal during two tours in Vietnam. With Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, he acted as a forward observer for artillery.