Denied Justice By the Country He Defended

Memorial Day 2009 in my small American town was like thousands of other celebrations across this great nation. Veterans and active duty military members marched proudly through our streets, honored by their neighbors in a public and jubilant way. Prayers, remembrances and tears punctuated the day as we were all called to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for our freedom.

Memorial Day 2009, however, marks the first of what may be 25 Memorial Days that Army Ranger 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna will spend behind bars in Ft. Leavenworth. In March of this year, Behenna was sentenced to 25 years for killing known Al Qaeda operative Ali Mansur. Behenna has maintained, and forensic evidence supports, that the killing occurred in self-defense.

Mansur’s cell was active in Behenna’s area of operation and may have been directly