Bob McCarty Writes

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the text of an e-mail received today from Scott and Vicki Behenna regarding their son, Michael, the Army officer whose case I’ve highlighted in nearly a dozen posts since June.  Click here to read those posts.

Merry Christmas to the many friends and supporters of Michael,

An update about Michael is difficult because this time of year is all about being together with family and friends.  While we will be able to see Michael over Christmas, our family will not feel complete until Michael is freed from Leavenworth.

Several things are happening toward that end and we are eagerly anticipating a favorable outcome.  Michael’s appellate brief will be filed in December with the Army Court of Appeals and we know Michael’s lawyers will make a powerful and compelling argument to reverse his conviction.  Please say a prayer for Michael’s attorney’s in their quest to present a document that will allow the Appellate Court to see the truth.  Also Vicki and some supporters traveled to Washington DC the first week of December to meet with numerous Congressmen and Senators.  The meetings went extremely well and some Congressmen and Senators are writing letters to the Clemency Board.   Some Congressmen are considering Congressional  hearings on the military’s “detention and release” policy that is responsible for 77,000 out of 87,000 detainees being released back to the battlefield for our soldiers to fight again and again.  As one Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines told Vicki on her trip to DC, this policy has cost the lives of American soldiers.  It is imperative that we stop putting our soldiers in harm’s way whether it is in the form of a terrorist’s bullets and bombs or prosecutors who want to lock these heroes up for defending themselves in a war zone.

Michael’s clemency hearing is January 7, 2010, and we will represent him at that hearing. The Secretary of the Army, John McHugh,  has the responsibility for clemency and has the power to reduce or eliminate Michael’s sentence.  If you have not done so already, please consider writing a letter to the Secretary to give clemency to Michael. McHugh’s address is:

Secretary of the Army John McHugh
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC  20301-1400

We also ask that you consider sending a quick note to Michael to let him know the support he has behind him and the groundswell that has begun to cast light on the current military policies that put our soldiers in harm’s way. Michael can only receive written materials (letters, cards, books), but you can also send a money order to Michael which he can use to purchase some items with his commissary account.  Money can only be sent via MONEY ORDER and it must list the payee as  ”MICHAEL BEHENNA #87503″.  All correspondence and money orders should be sent to :

Michael Behenna
1300 North Warehouse Road
FT. Leavenworth, Kansas  66027-2304

Below is a link to a biggovernment.com article that hits right at the heart of Michael’s case and has produced many inquiries :

http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/12/army-officer-kills-al-qaeda-operative-imprisoned-after-prosecutors-ignore-own-expert-witness/

Thanks again for your overwhelming support and may God bless your families this Christmas season.

Peace,

Scott & Vicki Behenna
Proud parents of 1LT Michael Behenna
www.DefendMichael.com

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