THIS SOLDIER RISKED HIS LIFE FOR YOU, WILL YOU HELP SAVE HIS ?
PFC COREY CLAGETT  IS FIGHTING FOR HIS FREEDOM, HIS CAPTORS ARE OUR OWN MILITARY AND GOVERMENT. JOIN US AND HELP SET THIS SOLDIER FREE !!!!
Your Subtitle text

Letters/State Officials

To all of Corey's Supporters:

The new Congress is being sworn in and it’s time to get their support for Corey’s case. Please write to your Congressman and Senators. Corey needs their support for his upcoming Clemency hearing, which I expect will be in April. Make sure you mail it to the local office, not the office in Washington D.C. (the mail takes too long because of screening for Anthrax). Together we can get Corey the support he needs to win his freedom. Below is a template of a letter to use.

Thank you all for your continued support. Let's make 2011 the year that Corey comes home.

Tim Parlatore

Use Sample Letter Below, just fill in your info and make it your own!

We Need The Public's HELP NOW !

The new Congress is being sworn in and it’s time to get their support for Corey’s case.  Please write to your Congressman and Senators.  Corey needs their support for his upcoming Clemency hearing.  Here is a template of a letter for you to send.  Make sure you mail it to the local office, not the office in Washington D.C. (the mail takes too long because of screening for Anthrax).  Together we can get Corey the support he needs to win his freedom. Below  is the letter to use, just fill in your State officials info, Please keep a copy and any response they send back to you.

Please send me a copy as well ( Melanie Dianiska ) so we may document who has been contacted, Corey would like to see who all has written on his behalf.


 

January 5, 2011

Senator John Doe

1 Main Street

Anytown, USA

 

Dear Senator Doe,

           

I am a constituent of yours from the town of ______________ and am writing to ask for your public support on an issue I care deeply about:  the clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders.  The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett.

 

            I heard about Corey’s case from _______.  I learned that Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill“all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq.  Him and his squad were dropped from a Black hawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields.  The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions.  Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive.  The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.

 

            Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.  He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill.  This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3.  Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement.

 

            Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring.  I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison.  A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair.  Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.

 

Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society.  Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life.  This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.

 

            I understand that your office does not like to get involved in pending judicial proceeding.  However, Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted.  Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army.  As a Senator/Congressman, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with this case.  Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need:

 

Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
260 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10016
(212) 679-6312
(212) 202-4787 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell

Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are.  We are concerned about the continuing suffering of this soldier who volunteered to fight for our freedom.  We would appreciate you and your staff looking into this case. 

 

 

Sincerely,

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Governor Nikki Haley

Governor's Mansion
800 Richland St.
Columbia 29201

Governor Nikki Haley,

           I am a constituent of yours from the town of  Ravenel and am writing to ask for your public support on an issue I care deeply about:  the clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders.  The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett my son.

           Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill “all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq.  Him and his squad were dropped from a Blackhawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields.  The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions.  Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive.  The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.

           Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.  He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill.  This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3.  Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement. 

                                           Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring. (April)  I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison.  A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair.  Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.

 

                                  Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society.  Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life.  This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.  

                                         

                                    I understand that your office does not like to get involved in pending judicial proceeding.  However, Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted.  Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army.  As the Governor, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with this case.  Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need:

                                                                  

                                                                   Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

                                                            Law Offices of Eric Franz, P.L.L.C.

                                                                747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

                                                                       New York, NY 10017

                                                                          212-355-2200

 Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are.  We are concerned about the continuing suffering of this soldier who volunteered to fight for our freedom.  We would appreciate you and your staff looking into my son’s case.

 

Sincerely,

 

A Soldier’s Mother,

Melanie Dianiska

6850 Burbage rd,

Ravenel, SC 29470

843-769-2582

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 20, 2011

Congressman Allen West

1708 Longworth HOB
...

Washington, DC 20515



Dear Congressman Allen West,


I had the pleasure of meeting you in Ft.Leavenworth, KS in September of 2010 at the Leavenworth 10 Freedom Ride. You gave a wonder speech and seemed genuine about the cause we were fighting for. You said you would do what ever you could to help our soldiers. I now call on you. I live in SC, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help. We need a letter asking for Clemency / Parole for my son Pfc Corey Clagett. We need you to ask others members of Congress to do the same.


I lost all hope at one point thinking our Government didn’t really want to listen or be bothered, but you took time out of your campaign to come to Leavenworth, KS.


For me you gave me hope again. You made me feel that there are those you are not afraid to stand up when no one else will. Please contact Corey’s attorney about submitting you letter on Corey’s behalf.


Below will refresh your memory about my son’s case.


The clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders. The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett My son.


Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill “all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq. Him and his squad were dropped from a Blackhawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields. The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions. Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive. The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.


Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill. This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3. Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement.


Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring. I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison. A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair. Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.


Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society. Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life. This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.


Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted. Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army. As a Senator/Congressman, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with my son’s case. Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need.


Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

Law Offices of Eric Franz, P.L.L.C.

747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10017

begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting
212-355-2200Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are. (We have family through out Fla. I am a Panama City Native)

Sincerely,



A Soldier’s Mother,

Melanie Dianiska

6850 Burbage rd,

Ravenel, SC 29470
end_of_the_skype_highlightingwww.coreyclagett.com

melaniedianiska@gmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 20, 2011

 Congressman Tim Scott

2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Suite 3007

Charleston, SC 29407

 

Dear Congressman Tim Scott,

 

                          I am a constituent of yours from the town of Ravenel and am writing to ask for your public support on an issue I care deeply about: the clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders. The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett My son.

 

                       Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill “all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq. Him and his squad were dropped from a Black hawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields. The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions. Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive. The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.

 

                          Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill. This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3. Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement.

 

                                   Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring. I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison. A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair. Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.

 

                                    Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society. Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life. This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.

 

                                           I understand that your office does not like to get involved in pending judicial proceeding. However, Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted. Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army. As a Senator/Congressman, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with my son’s case. Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need:

 

 

 

                                                      Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

                                             Law Offices of Eric Franz, P.L.L.C.

                                                   747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

                                                       New York, NY 10017

                                                                 


 

Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are. We are concerned about the continuing suffering of this soldier who volunteered to fight for our freedom. We would appreciate you and your staff looking into this case.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

A Soldier’s Mother,

Melanie Dianiska

6850 Burbage rd,

Ravenel, SC 29470

843-769-2582 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlightiwww.coreyclagett.com

melaniedianiska@gmail.com

 

PS. Again there are no pending legal proceedings<span> </span>at all and his appeals have been exhausted. Please, all we ask is write a letter asking for Clemency / Parole on my son Corey Clagett’s behalf that was born and raised here in SC.

 

Call Corey’s Attorney Tim Parlatore and ask questions, Get to know my son and what he went through and is still going through mentally from Mr. Parlatore. You would want to help when you hear the story. Please take the time to find out.

 

I hear so much about how you love SC and how much you have done for SC. Please don’t be afraid to help. I beg and plead with you. I am the little woman; I don’t have much, just the love of a mother fighting for her son.

 

I have sent this letter to your office, facebook and my website showing that I have reached out to you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

January 20, 2011


Senator DeMint

112 Custom House

200 East Bay St.

Charleston, SC 29401

Dear Senator DeMint,


                          I am a constituent of yours from the town of Ravenel and am writing to ask for your public support on an issue I care deeply about: the clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders. The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett My son.


                       Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill “all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq. Him and his squad were dropped from a Black hawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields. The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions. Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive. The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.


                          Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill. This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3. Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement.


                                   Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring. I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison. A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair. Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.


                                    Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society. Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life. This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.


                                           I understand that your office does not like to get involved in pending judicial proceeding. However, Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted. Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army. As a Senator/Congressman, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with my son’s case. Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need.




                                                      Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

                                             Law Offices of Eric Franz, P.L.L.C.

                                                   747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

                                                       New York, NY 10017

                                                           



Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are. We are concerned about the continuing suffering of this soldier who volunteered to fight for our freedom. We would appreciate you and your staff looking into this case.


Sincerely,



A Soldier’s Mother,

Melanie Dianiska

6850 Burbage rd,

Ravenel, SC 29470

www.coreyclagett.com

melaniedianiska@gmail.com


PS. I have written to you so has many others and you replied that you can not get involved due to a pending legal case.  Again there are no pending legal proceedings at all and his appeals have been exhausted. Please, all we ask is write a letter asking for Clemency / Parole on my son Corey Clagett’s behalf that was born and raised here in SC.


Call Corey’s Attorney Tim Parlatore and ask questions, Get to know my son and what he went through and is still going through mentally from Mr. Parlatore. You would want to help when you hear the story. Please take the time to find out.


Note: I sent this letter to all your offices and e-mailed it to you.

Also posted on my Web Site,Facebook

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 20, 2011

Senator Lindsey Graham

130 South Main Street, 7th Floor

Greenville, SC 29601


Dear Senator Graham,


                          I am a constituent of yours from the town of Ravenel and am writing to ask for your public support on an issue I care deeply about: the clemency of a U.S. Army soldier who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing Iraqi insurgents under orders. The soldier I am referring to is Private First Class Corey Clagett My son.


                       Corey was part of a squad instructed to kill “all military aged males” during an operation called Iron Triangle in the dangerous Thar-Thar region of Iraq. Him and his squad were dropped from a Blackhawk helicopter into the region and entered a house where they found three Iraqi’s using women as human shields. The Iraqis were detained and the squad reconvened to contact headquarters for further instructions. Headquarters asked why the Iraqis were still alive. The squad leader then instructed Corey, the youngest member of the squad, and another soldier, to kill the Iraqis and make it look as if there was a struggle. PFC Clagett did as he was told.


                          Corey Clagett pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He then assisted the government as a cooperating witness in the prosecution of the squad leader who gave him the orders to kill. This man was sentenced to only 10 years in prison and released after 3. Corey has spent the last 5 years in solitary confinement.


                                   Corey’s attorney, Tim Parlatore, is filing a petition for clemency and will be having a hearing at the Army Clemency and Parole Board this spring. I ask that you support Corey’s clemency petition because I believe Corey has served enough time in prison. A sentence of 18 years for killing insurgents in the context of combat, carried out under orders, by a 21 year old, the youngest member of his squad, is simply not fair. Especially since the squad leader, who ordered the killing and orchestrated the cover-up only served 3 years.


                                    Moreover, Corey has thus far spent his prison sentence in solitary confinement and I understand that his mental condition is quickly deteriorating. He suffers from sever depression and PTSD, which puts him further and further away each year he spends in prison, from being integrated back into society. Instead of prison, he needs psychiatric care that will help him to one day live a normal and productive life. This is simply no way to treat a soldier who has served in the U.S. Army, even one that made a mistake.


                                           I understand that your office does not like to get involved in pending judicial proceeding. However, Corey has no pending legal proceedings as all his appeals have been exhausted. Corey is seeking clemency from the Secretary of the Army. As a Senator/Congressman, it is entirely appropriate for you to get involved, as your colleagues have in other cases, and I hope that you will get involved with my son’s case. Please contact Corey’s attorney, who can provide you all the information you need:




                                                      Timothy Parlatore, Esq.

                                             Law Offices of Eric Franz, P.L.L.C.

                                                   747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

                                                       New York, NY 10017

                                                               



Corey may not be one of your constituents, but my family and friends are. We are concerned about the continuing suffering of this soldier who volunteered to fight for our freedom. We would appreciate you and your staff looking into this case.


Sincerely,


A Soldier’s Mother,

Melanie Dianiska

6850 Burbage rd,

Ravenel, SC 29470

www.coreyclagett.com


PS. I have written to you so has many others and you replied that you can not get involved due to a pending legal case.  Again there are no pending legal proceedings at all and his appeals have been exhausted. Please, all we ask is write a letter asking for Clemency / Parole on my son Corey Clagett’s behalf that was born and raised here in SC.


Call Corey’s Attorney Tim Parlatore and ask questions, Get to know my son and what he went through and is still going through mentally from Mr. Parlatore. You would want to help when you hear the story. Please take the time to find out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Response I received by e-mail below. Automatic I'm sure.


Thank you for taking the time to contact me.  I appreciate the opportunity to hear from you.


In spite of the high volume of mail I receive daily, I look forward to reviewing your correspondence and providing a personal response as soon as possible.


As we continue our work in the 111th Congress, I look forward to supporting our troops in the War on Terror, repairing our economy and creating jobs, strengthening Social Security, lowering the tax burden on American families, and making the federal government more accountable and efficient.


Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance to you or your family, and if you need immediate assistance, please call my office at 202-224-5972.  If your correspondence pertains to a scheduling request, please fax your request to (202) 224-3808.


Sincerely,


Lindsey Graham

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E-Mail sent to Robert Gates -- Jan.12, 2011

Dear Mr. Gates,

Secretary of Defense:

          


               I am writing you here at 4:00 am over the dismal injustice regarding PFC Corey Clagett.  A 21 year old soldier who followed orders under the stress of battle in operation Iron triangle who has already served 4 yrs. at Ft. Leavenworth, predominately in isolation.  I do not personally know Corey   which is unimportant.  That he could be one of my own 3 sons or 2 daughter’s and for that matter the spouse, child , parent or sibling cherry picked as a scapegoat is a tragedy up close and personal  to any American aware of the wrong imposed upon him by the very nation he endeavored to serve in loyal obedience .

        I can’t help but sit here shaking my head in despair as the facts of his case are clear and challenge the patriotic pride I so desire to have   in my Country.  A pride sadly tarnished realizing he may neither be the first nor the last scapegoat   to be thrown under the bus in similar fashion. An 18 yr. sentence not meted out to the officer who issued the orders but to the youngest involved in extreme circumstance’s dependent on higher command to lead in authority and one would think accountability.

         I can’t begin to imagine the low blow to morale this atrocity must be having on every soldier well aware of this sad travesty which has shown absolutely no regard to prevent a US soldier from being railroaded in callous indifference. No doubt you are well aware the Southern states contribute a significant percentage of those who enlist to serve this nation. Here in remote rural regions like mine there isn’t one family who doesn’t have a family member actively deployed in Iraq, Afghan or S. Korea.  What’s happened to Corey Clagett has aroused the righteous indignation of all.  It would not be surprising to see such betrayal do serious damage to recruitment among our young people.

           Corey is just one name, one face rapidly becoming symbolic of how it could be foolhardy to trust the military with one’s life and future.One soldier involved has actually been returned to active duty & given a promotion. I have 5 grown children 13 grand children and I’m heartsick to see them lose faith in their nation this way. A daughter in Delaware who does me proud by championing Corey’s because there and through her masterful skills on the computer is rallying support far and wide on a daily basis. I urge you to apply your esteemed position in efforts to right the wrongs done this young man. I find myself curious as to how may there may already be out there   who’ve endure similar indignation but never received public Awareness for they’re situation. More than likely Corey isn’t the first and quite possibly won’t be the last. The least we owe these soldier’s defending our nation are civilian troops on their home front  willing to amass the support they need they indeed may not get  from the government that deploys them.                                                                   

 RB

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Charles Vance

Humble, Texas 77346

Open letter to veterans groups


Veterans / Vets:

America has imprisoned its hero’s and defenders. There are brave American soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors currently serving time in a prison hell in Fort Leavenworth for simply doing their job and doing whatever they believed necessary to protect the lives of their men as well as their own.

   

    Men in wars past have been given medals and great honor for doing the very things these brave men have done in the name of freedom. So what happened? When did we decide that war was supposed to be anything other than total death and destruction where a victor emerges and a conquered foe obeys the will of that victor?

General Sherman once said,

 

"You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace."

 

     Warriors fight to secure peace, having witnessed first hand the bitter irony of the cruelty of war, know more than any other the truth of the darkness of war and the reasons for ending it.

The cruelest irony of our time is the idea that we can gently win the hearts and minds of the enemy while simultaneously conducting “war” in his midst.

 

      This is insanity and you dear veteran know what I say is true.

If you witnessed death from the sky at Pearl Harbor, suffered during the Bataan death march, served gallantly in a prison hell as a POW, dropped with a stick behind enemy lines, stormed a Normandy beachhead or waded through bloody beaches of the South

Pacific, marched into hell at Sicily, Anzio, or the south of

France; If you fought Rommel in the desert sands of Africa, endured cold and starvation at the Bulge, raised old glory with victor’s cry, trudged rivers of mud and blood at the 38th, rode with the Air Cavalry into jungles filled with death, smelled napalm in the air, popped red smoke, became a “Desert Storm”, toppled tyrants or killed terrorists to keep this country free then you must know the truth of war that it is not kind or gentle and there will never be any “winning” of a heart or a mind. Most of all it is not a crime scene!

 

         The war in Iraq and Afghanistan ostensibly began in response to an unprovoked attack on our soil, September 11, 2001. Much like another day in infamy, December 7, 1941. The former also resulted in a military response, one that ultimately ended in victory on two fronts. We did not concern ourselves with convincing either the Japanese or the Germans of anything but sought only the swift destruction of the evil axis power of Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini and did whatever necessary to accomplish this, up to and including causing the deaths of untold innocence, such is the nature of war. Only one man stood accused of committing war crimes in recent history, 2nd Lt. William Calley. Charged with the premeditated murder of 27 Vietnamese civilians, Calley eventually served only 3 ½ years of “house arrest” at Ft. Benning. I do not write here to judge Lt. Calley for his actions that day, but I think I can speak in good conscience that his actions were not criminal and he harbored no intent to commit “murder”. Murder is a word that cannot morally be uttered in the same sentence as War. In war there is only killing, murder requires the rule of law, in war there is no law. Fast forward to modern Iraq to a time after the very public declaration of a “mission accomplished” when the radical Muslim insurgency was on the rise and our boys were being slaughtered daily while trying to conduct a war in the stupidest manner ever devised.

 

A new phrase has been coined, “lawfare”, which is to say that combat actions are directed not by battlefield commanders but rather by lawyers and prosecutors that have declared every combat action a crime scene. Once an action is completed and the enemy lies dead in the street the combatant is now expected to act at once as a policeman and gather evidence that his actions were justified. He must take photographs and even get eye witness testimony, but the testimony cannot come from a soldier or marine, it must come from an Iraqi!

 

     Military prosecutors have a 98% conviction rate of those they charge with murder in these cases, is it any wonder? How can any patriotic American stand idly by while our brave boys are maliciously accused, tried and convicted of crimes they did not commit?

 

     Thousands of terrorists were captured and most were turned loose only to have them plant more roadside bombs or shoot our men.

They were turned loose because there was a “lack of evidence”, a term that also cannot morally be applied in a theater of war.

I appeal to you patriot, I appeal to you veteran, please do something about this terrible injustice. I used to think that death was the worse that could happen to a man in combat, now I know that there are some things worse than death. Tucked away, forgotten after having served faithfully with honor and integrity, after having acted with courage under fire time and time again, after having saved countless American lives to be warehoused in a god forsaken place for life is worse than death.

 

   There are eight men we know of and others have said there may be as many as a hundred more in prison at Leavenworth unjustly. The Secretary of the Army could with the stoke of his pen right these wrongs, the clemency boards could also make things right but have chosen not to do so, instead they have acted simply as a good warehouseman caring not about the contents of the box that has been delivered to their doorstep, they continue to deny any meaningful clemency with their disgusting rubber stamp approach with careless disregard for the brave and honorable packages they possess.

 

     Would you stand with me and petition the Secretary of the Army as a “recognized veterans group” to release these men? I challenge you to research these men and discover the truth for yourself.


PFC Corey Clagett http://www.coreyclagett.com

1Lt. Michael Behenna www.DefendMichael.com

SGT Evan Vela Carnahan http://freeevanvela.blogspot.com/

MSG John Hatley http://defendjohnhatley.com/


SPC William B Hunsaker

http://soldiersforjusticeandpeace.com/leavenworth-10/spc-william-

Hunsaker/

SGT Michael Leahy http://supportsgtleahy.webs.com/

SFC Joseph Mayo http://www.defendjosephmayo.com/

SGT Michael P Williams

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/13/family-stands-

By-court-martialed-soldier

 

Warmest Regards,

Charles B Vance

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Hosting Companies