Entries in Vicki Behenna (14)
Deputy Secretary of the Army Rules on The 1Lt Michael Behenna Case
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 6:23PM
The Deputy Secretary of the Army, Catherine Mitrano, following the recommendation of the Army Clemency Board, determined that 1Lt Michael Behenna’s sentence should be reduced from 20 years to 15 years. Although we asked that Michael’s sentence be suspended pending his appeal, we are nonetheless grateful for this reduction in sentence. Yet it is still hard to believe that this wonderful young man who fought so bravely for his country could sit behind bars until he turns 40 years of age. I promise you that our fight for him will not end until Michael is free once more. The next step in this long road to freedom is the appeals process. Michael’s lawyers filed a brief in late December and the military now has several months to respond to it. Once the military files their response then Michael’s appeal will be set before the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, most likely later this summer. We believe that Michael’s appeal is especially strong based upon the prosecutor’s withholding of critical evidence from the jury. In the meantime it is your support and letters which buoy Michael’s spirits and keep him going through this nightmare. Your support and the calls for Michael’s release continue to grow louder and louder. Just a week ago Vicki was interviewed on the Michael Savage radio show and Michael’s case captured the committed followers of the Savage Nation. The response has been overwhelming and in a recent phone call Michael told us that his mail outnumbered all other mail coming into his prison pod. Encouragement from you sustains our son and for that we are forever in your debt. Thank you for lifting up Michael and all our family and providing us the hope we need to continue the fight for his release and exoneration. Below are some links you may find interesting, including a letter sent this week from two United States Congressmen to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. Thank you again for your overwhelming support of an American soldier we proudly call our son. Scott and Vicki Behenna 
www.defendmichael.com
Several Post Links on 1Lt Michael Behenna
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9:47PM I am going to list numerous posts from several sources on 1Lt Michael Behenna, while I compile things that I personally have from last week.
Some of the posts are the same on different sites, but I wanted to give as many kudos and links as possible for everyone who is posting on this subject!
The Behenna's are still waiting on the results from the clemency hearing and with that, I ask you to continue to pray the the clemency board will "Do The Right Thing"!
Pastor Ed
From KOCO.com; Oklahoma City Channel 5
Videos:http://www.koco.com/video/22179023/ (At the hearing, very informative)
http://www.koco.com/video/22115863/
http://www.koco.com/video/22114907/
Behenna's Mom Asks For Clemency
Soldier's Mom To Appeal To Panel
From The Snooper Report:
Behenna's After Action Report for the Clemency Hearing
Clemency Hearing for Lt Michael Behenna
Vicki Behenna on Two Marines Locked and Loaded, Our Next DC Trip, and a Call to Fast & Prayer
From Aunty Brat at Assoluta Tranquillita:
1st Lt. Michael Behenna: Today IS the day for justice
From Family Security Matters:
Joan Swirsky: Something Terrible has Happened to Michael
Aunty Brat: 1st Lt. Michael Behenna: Now is the Time for Justice
From Pat Dollard .com:
Behenna’s After Action Report for the Clemency Hearing
We Made It To DC!!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 9:23PM Wow, what a trip. Nearly 1,000 miles, a near blizzard, 6 fantastic people and here we are. And when we got here we added 2 more.
We meet up with Vicki Behenna and crew at 10 am Wednesday and are visiting people on Capital Hill. We will keep you updated and will start running pictures soon. We may have some pictures up on Facebook sooner than here, but we will do our best.
Keep praying for Lt Behenna and his family as they prepare for Thursay!
Vicki Behenna on Two Marines Locked and Loaded, Our Next DC Trip, and a Call to Fast & Prayer
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 2:16AM Show Host: TIGERBO & Rev. Don
Special Guest Vicki Behenna the mother of 1st Lt. Michael Behenna who served with the 101st Airborne is now serving a 25-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth after being convicted unjustly of unpremeditated murder in the shooting death of Ali Mansur, a known Al-Qaeda operative.
Check the archive of this show out. Another outstanding appearance by Vicki and Lt. Behenna's girlfriend Shannon Wahl.
There are several of us who will be driving and flying to DC on January 5th - 7th to help support the Behenna family as they attend Michael's clemency hearing on the 7th. We will be lobbying the folks on Capital Hill to get the story out to as many members of Congress as possible. We also plan to spend some time at Walter Reed Hospital on one of the days we are there.
Right now there are 7 people from our "cyber congregation" who will be with us. A very generous person has paid for 2 of our nights hotel in DC. We will probably have two other nights to take care of along with the other expenses of the trip. We also have at least one other person who would like to go and will not be due to finances.
I don't want anyone who wants to be a part of this to not come due to finances - so if you would like to help us out on this trip, you can donate by clicking the Pay Pal logo in the right column. The funds will be used to help the group as a whole.
Those who have committed to the trip right now are (some will only be listed by their online nics): Mark "Snooper" Harvey, LTC John "Tiger Bo" Dawson, Stanger 73, Nony, Carrie Swartout, Annieb and I.
Call to Fast & Pray
I am asking all the believe in fasting and/or prayer to do so each day from now until the 7th for the clemency hearing for Lt. Behenna. He needs to be home with his family and not in jail for doing the job he was trained to do. This is the most important part of this entire post - so if you can't listen to the show, if you can't go to DC, if you can't help financially, you can most certainly reach out to our Father in Heaven on behalf of all the Behenna Family.
More info on the Lt. Behenna story
Let's Bring Michael Home for Christmas!
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 3:12PM I just listened to the end of the Vicki Behenna interview on Joyce Kaufman's radio show (850 WFTL) in South Florida. http://www.850wftl.com/LIVE-ON-THE-AIR---Joyce-Kaufman/1159824#news .
LTC Alan West, who has been a quest on our Do The Right Thing Radio program, told Vicki on the show that he wanted to see Michael home by Christmas. I hope you will join with us in helping make that happen.
Below is the information on the front page of the Defend Michael website. Get as much knowledge as you possibly can and then lets bombard Congress, the White House, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, and anyone who will listen with a demand that Michael be home by Christmas 2009.
Some of you may know that there are at least 7 of us who plan to be with the Behenna's in DC in January. Wouldn't it be great if we were able to tell those we are meeting with that we want Michael's name cleared instead of let him come home.
Please pray, read, and act!
Pastor EdDEFEND MICHAEL 
Michael Behenna Defense Fund
Home
The Michael Behenna Story by Carrie Fatigante
Clemency Letter from Oklahoma Congressional Delegation
LA Times article on Michael – Part 1
LA Times article on Michael – Part 2
The Testimony The Prosecutors Didn’t Let The Jury Hear (From Their Own Expert Witness)
MILITARY PROSECUTORS WITHHOLD EVIDENCE; ARMY RANGER GOES TO PRISON FOR 25 YEARS FOR SHOOTING AL QAEDA OPERATIVE
The Story
Michael Behenna
On March 20th, 2009, Army Ranger 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing Ali Mansur, a known Al Qaeda operative while serving in Iraq. Mansur was known to be a member of an Al Qaeda cell operating in the lieutenant’s area of operation and was suspected to have organized an attack on Lt. Behenna’s platoon in April 2008 which killed two U.S. soldiers and injured two more. Army intelligence ordered the release of Mansur and Lt. Behenna was ordered to return the terrorist to his home.
During the return of Mansur, Lt. Behenna again questioned the Al Qaeda member for information about other members of the terrorist cell, and financial supporters. During this interrogation, Mansur attacked Lt. Behenna, who killed the terrorist in self-defense. The government subsequently prosecuted Lt. Behenna for premeditated murder.
Not only is this a miscarriage of justice on the behalf of Lt. Behenna, who was acting to prevent further loss of life in his platoon, it is demoralizing to the U.S. troops who continue to fight on behalf of the freedom and security of our nation. Whether it is U.S. border patrol agents, members of the armed forces, or FBI agents, no individual who is serving on the frontlines in the War on Terror should be so blatantly mistreated.
We urgently need your help to correct this terrible wrong against a loyal and faithful soldier. Please contact your congressman and ask them to intervene on behalf of 1LT Behenna. Below is a brief recap of the relevant aspects of Lt. Behenna’s case.
- September 2007: 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna deployed to Iraq for his first combat experience
- April 21, 2008: Lt. Behenna’s platoon was attacked by Al Qaeda operatives. The attack resulted in death of two of Lt. Behenna’s platoon members, two Iraqi citizens, and wounded two additional soldiers under Lt. Behenna’s command.
- May 5, 2008: Known terrorist Ali Mansur was detained at his home for suspected involvement in the attack on Lt. Behenna’s platoon
- May 16, 2008: Army Intelligence orders the release of Mansur
- Lt. Behenna, who lost two members of his platoon just weeks earlier, was ordered to transport Mansur back to his home
- Lt. Behenna attempts a final interrogation of Mansur prior to his release
- During the interrogation, Behenna is attacked by Mansur and is forced to defend himself. During the altercation, the terrorist is killed.
- Lt. Behenna failed to properly report the incident
- July 2008: The U.S. Army charges Lt. Behenna with premeditated murder for the death of Al Qaeda operative and terrorist Ali Mansur.
- February 23, 2009: Lt. Behenna’s trial begins
- Government and defense experts agree on the trajectory of the bullets killing Mansur
- Prosecution expert Dr. Herbert MacDonnell initiated contact with defense attorneys explaining his agreement with the testimony of Lt. Behenna and his presentation to prosecutors supporting Lt. Behenna’s version of events.
- Dr. MacDonnell is not called to testify in the case and instead is sent home. Just before leaving the courthouse he picks up his coat from the prosecution room and says to the three prosecutors (Megan Poirier, Jason Elbert, and Erwin Roberts), ‘The explanation that Lt Behenna just testified to was the exact same scenario I told you yesterday. Lt Behenna is telling the truth.’
- Jack Zimmermann, defense counsel, asks prosecutors if they have any exculpatory evidence that should be provided to the defense (referring to Dr. MacDonnell’s demonstration). Prosecutors deny having any such evidence despite having been told by their own expert witness that Lt Behenna’s explanation was the only logical explanation.
- Prosecutors withholding of this evidence allowed them to argue that Lt. Behenna executed Ali Mansur while seated when the forensic experts, including Dr. MacDonnell, agree that Ali was standing with his arms outstretched when shot
- Lt. Behenna is convicted of unpremeditated murder and assault by a military panel of seven officers, none of whom had combat experience.
- Dr. MacDonnell contacts prosecution requesting that the information provided in his demonstration be given to the defense.
- Prosecutors provide such information after a verdict was rendered, but prior to sentencing.
- At the request of the presiding judge, Dr. MacDonnell provides his information to the court via telephone
- The judge orders both sides in the case to file briefs relating to a possible mistrial
- After reading the briefs the judge set an additional hearing and ordered additional briefs, including one from the defense requesting a new trial.
- On March 20, the judge denied defense motions to declare a mistrial and to order a new trial
- Lt. Behenna’s attorneys are appealing the verdict
- Lt. Behenna is currently serving a 25-year sentence
1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna was an excellent officer. He received his call to serve his country while attending the University of Central Oklahoma. He is from a family of public servants, his mother being an Assistant United States Attorney and his father a retired Special Agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. He has served the Army and the United States with honor and dignity. To sacrifice the life of this Oklahoma soldier over the death of a known terrorist, is a breech of faith with all who are serving our country.
www.DefendMichael.com Wristband
We’ll send you this DefendMichael.com wristband with any donation of $20 or more.
» Donate Online
Support Michael
We need your support now more than ever. The government has unlimited resources and has spent accordingly. 1LT Behenna and his family hired civilian counsel, Houston lawyers Jack B. Zimmermann and Kyle R. Sampson, at their own expense. This Legal Defense Fund has been established for the sole purpose of helping ensure that 1LT Behenna has meaningful access to experienced legal defense counsel in the military prosecution. The value of having experience in a case like this became very obvious when the issue of evidence withheld by the prosecution was discovered. All donations to this Fund will be used exclusively for attorney fees and expenses associated with this legal defense and will be maintained in an independently administered trust account. Funds will not be distributed directly to 1LT Behenna.
If you are able to help defray these costs, please send contributions to the:
1LT Michael Behenna Legal Defense Fund
c/o Jack Dawson, co-trustee
100 Park Avenue, Second Floor
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102-8099
or Rachel Lawrence Mor, co-trustee
3037 N.W. 63rd Street, Suite 251
Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73116
Please read our Legal Disclosure before donating. Thank you for assisting Lt. Michael Behenna.
Link to Vicki Behenna on the Radio
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 9:37PM Got the following email from the Behenna's. Hope you can listen in.
Pastor Ed
Hey everyone,
A heads up that Vicki will talk about Michael's case on Joyce Kaufman's radio show (850 WFTL) in South Florida at 2:30 Tomorrow. Attached is a computer link to the show. Please pass this around! Call in if you feel the urge.
http://www.850wftl.com/LIVE-ON-THE-AIR---Joyce-Kaufman/1159824#news
Thanks,
Scott
Why is Michael Behenna Still in Prison?
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 12:05AM From the Stand Up America USA Facebook Group
Why Is Michael Behenna Still in Prison?
Oct 21 Written by: Diana West
This one stinks out loud. I am referring to the military trial of Army Ranger 1Lt. Michael Behanna of Oklahoma for the charge of murder of an Al Qaeda operative in Iraq in which military prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence provided by the military prosecution's own expert witness from the defense team until after the trial wrapped up. As a likely result, Behanna, 25, was sentenced in March of this year to 25 years in prison for unpremeditated murder.
Bright spot: tireless parents (mother on team that convicted Timothy McVeigh, father former state investigator) and the entire Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, now pressing the clemency board for fair treatment. Details (petition, defense fund info, and news, including a recent, compelling LA Times two-part story on the case) at Defend Michael.
An aside: One of the many reasons I came to harbor animosity toward George W. Bush was for the way he, the commander-in-chief, let so many of the soldiers he sent into war twist in the vortex of political correctness and political appeasement. I can think of so many men President Bush turned his back on when they needed his support and, of course, pardons, and I know my list is incomplete: Col. Allen West, Lt. Ilario Pantano, the Haditha Marines, Sgt. Evan Vela, Larry Hutchins, Marine X, the Fallujah Marines, Capt. Roger Hill ... The Navy SEALS immortalized in Marcus Luttrell's book Lone Survivor belong on this list as well. Who can forget that one of the reasons the 4-man SEAL team, compromised deep in Taliban territory, didn't kill the Afghan man and boy who had discovered their hiding place, was fear of military prosecution at home?
End result? 19 Americans miliitary men dead in an epic wartime disaster. But there was no "crime" committed that day to prosecute, either -- and that's what counts in the shameful world of military justice. The SEALs feared the Taliban fighters who would ultimately overwhelm them shortly after they released the man and boy less than they feared a JAG team that would have thrown the book at them if they had lived through the mission. Looking at Michael Behenna's outrageous treatment, among the others, it's easy to see why.
This can't go on.
Vicki and Kim Behenna To Appear On "Kicking Back With The Dame Truth"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 5:06PM Posted at the Defend Michael site by The Dame Truth:
We continue to keep Michael and his wonderful family in our thoughts and prayers, and to spread the truth of his plight as much as we possibly can.
Frighteningly, our military is made vulnerable daily by reams of inane, politically correct policies such as the current Rules of Engagement that prevent them from doing their duty in war zones and jeopardizes them needlessly.
Please join me with Vicki and Kim Behenna on Saturday August 22 at 11 PM EST on http://blogtalkradio.com/Central-Park-7 for update and discussion on “Kicking Back With The Dame Truth.”
Lt Behenna's Parents and Fiance On DTRT Radio Tonight
Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 3:34PM 
Great news folks! Tonight on Do The Right Thing Radio, our special guests will be Lt Michael Behenna's parents, Scott and Vicki along with his fiance, Shannon.
Join us at 10 pm eastern by calling 347-324-5417 or at this link:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cyberpastor/2009/08/07/Do-The-Right-Thing-Radio-Support-our-Troops
Do us a favor too, forward this information to as many of your family and friends as possible at the momentum in Lt Behenna's case seems to be building - and the more people that know the TRUTH about what has happened to one of our heroes the better the chances are of justice being served.
In addition, first take a moment to lift Lt Behenna and his family up in prayer! I think the folks who listen to our show know the power of prayer - so let's continue to put this situation before the Almighty One!
Having one of our precious troops serving time in Leavenworth for killing an Al-Queda terrorist is unacceptable - tune in to learn more and to support one of America's finest!
Maybe The Ball Is Finally Rolling - Let's Don't Let Up
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 9:17PM
Praise God,
This week at a hearing, Congresswoman Fallin questioned the Army's top lawyer on the floor of the House of Representatives concerning Michael's case (see video link below). Fallin has been an advocate of Michael all along and vigorously pursued the miscarriage of justice that occurred, but publicly questioning the Army about the fairness of the trial was a huge step.
We have been swarmed with letters and emails and petition comments as a result of Representative Fallin's inquiry. We are told that other Oklahoma Congressional Delegation members and others in the Congress and Senate are also working behind the scenes, but this is the Nationwide publicity that Michael's case deserves.
We ask that you pass on this email to others who would need to read and hear it. Have them visit Michael's web site DEFENDMICHAEL.COM to find more information. The National media has made inquiries and through your help this will bear fruit and we will force this issue to the top where the Army must act to correct this situation.
(Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12zbcS6U5cw
(press release) http://ok05fallin.congressnewsletter.net/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100044010.598.208&gen=1
Please continue to write letters of encouragement to Mike at Leavenworth, his web site, or on the petition (we copy these and sent them to him - he has no access to a computer)
(web site) http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/
(petition) http://www.petitiononline.com/MBehenna/petition.html (up to 3,900 - help us get to 5 digits)
(Leavenworth address)
Michael Behenna #87503
1300 Warehouse Road
Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas 66027
Thank you for your untiring support.
Peace,
Scott & Vicki Behenna
Stanger to Host Show with Vicki Behenna as Guest
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 4:50PM 
Back to Basic w/ Dan Clements
BACK TO BASIC W/ GUEST HOST STANGER 73
Dan Clements
Date / Time: 7/29/2009 10:00 AM Eastern
Category: Politics Conservative
Call-in Number: (347) 945-5379
Show Description: Fellow travelers of earth join Stanger 73 as he takes the reigns of BACK TO BASIC and talks with Vicki Behenna about the plight of Michael Behenna, an Army Ranger that was wrongfully prosecuted for defending himself and his squad from a known Al Qaeda operative for some political purpose. Read up on this at http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/.
This came in by email from Stanger:
The show I am dedicating to Michael Behenna is Dan Clements “Back to Basic” at 10am eastern, 7am pacific on Wednesday the 29th. I will have Vicky Behenna on for the full time, or at least as long as she can stay on. This is a cause we all need to stand up for.
Show link:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Dan-Clements/2009/07/29/BACK-TO-BASIC-W-DAN-CLEMENTS
General Rules in the Lt. Behenna Case
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 10:44PM I just got the following email from the parents of Lt. Behenna. My question is when will someone grow a "set" and DO THE RIGHT THING? - Pastor Ed
Hello everyone,
It has been a while since the last update, but we have been waiting on the General to review Michael's clemency packet. Although our hope in the General granting favorable action was not great, we felt Michael had such a compelling case that relief was just around the corner. Unfortunately the sad news came that the General had basically passed the buck. The Staff Judge Advocate (the Generals legal counsel and the Prosecutors boss) recommended to the General that Michael serve the full 25 years. This recommendation came even in light of the trial judges recommendation that Michael's sentence be something less than 18 years. The General ultimately reduced Michael's sentence to 20 years, which is a real disappointment and inconsistent with other soldier's convicted of similar crimes.
However, the good news is that we can finally move towards his first appeal. We have had so many great legal minds offer their assistance to ensure the appeal is compelling. Michael has said he feels good about the appeal and wishes he did not have to wait the many months it will take until the Court hears the case. But he is doing well, and has several outstanding soldiers who are now housed in his unit. These soldiers are helping one another make sense of what has happened in their cases. Prior to their convictions of killing terrorists, all of these soldiers had sterling careers. There is a startling trend of US soldiers having been pushed to their limits, and the Army releasing known terrorists, and these soldiers feeling they must take matters into their own hands to protect their soldiers. Currently the prisoner's of this war are known as the "Leavenworth Ten". You will hear more about these heroes as the public begins to know their stories.
We are about 10 months to a year away from the Army Court of Appeals. It is important to keep Michael's story alive and his spirits lifted. We appreciate everything you have done to help Michael and our family during the past year. We respectfully ask that you don't slow down now. Members of Congress know about Michael's case and will continue to support him at the Pentagon if you continue to let them know the importance of this issue. The local media has been fantastic and we are on the verge of the National media picking up the story. Please do not pass up a chance to tell Michael's story, or pass on this message or his DEFENDMICHAEL.COM web site . If you have not signed his petition, or told others about it, you can access the petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?MBehenna
Peace,
Scott & Vicki
Video on the 1Lt Behenna Case
Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 3:25PM Mother of soldier convicted of executing an Iraqi prisoner is pleading for a retrial after discovering that exculpatory evidence was never presented at the trial.