Check in here to say THANK YOU to Sgt. Benderman and Monica Benderman

Thank you for standing up for compassion and justice!!
~ ~ ~
Previous thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=104&topic_id=4214180&mesg_id=4214180

(Kevin & Monica Benderman have posted at DU and have many supporters here)

http://antiwar.com/blog /

Sgt. Benderman Gets 15 Months for Lesser Charge

Debbie Clark covering the court-martial for Antiwar.com from Fort Stewart, Georgia, reports that judge Col. Donna M. Wright has convicted Sgt. Kevin Benderman of the charge of missing movement," failing to convict on the charge of desertion.

Judge Wright sentenced Sgt. Benderman to 15 months. Observers felt this was a harsher sentence than expected for the lesser charge. He also received a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to E-1. This is believed to be the harshest sentence yet for an Iraq resister. Judge Wright threw out the bogus charge of larceny (for clerical error in receiving combat pay) earlier in the week.

Military police immediately took Sgt. Benderman into custody.

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http://www.bendermandefense.org /

One Soldier’s Fight to Legalize Morality
by Monica Benderman

Hinesville, Georgia, Thursday, July 7, 2005--On July 28, 2005, in a small non-descript courtroom on Ft. Stewart, Georgia, a Court Martial is scheduled to begin. Again. One Army NCO who decided that he had no choice but to make a conscious choice NOT to return to war is being put on trial for caring about humanity.

This soldier fulfilled his commitment, he kept his promise to his enlisted contract, and when ordered to deploy to Iraq at the start of the invasion, he went, not because he wanted to “kill Iraqis” or “destroy terrorist cells,” but because he wanted the soldiers he served with to come home safely.

He returned knowing that war is wrong, the most dehumanizing creation of humanity that exists. He saw war destroy civilians, innocent men, women and children. He saw war destroy homes, relationships and a country. He saw this not only in the country that was invaded, but he saw this happening to the invading country as well – and he knew that the only way to save those soldiers was for people to no longer participate in war. Sgt. Kevin Benderman is a Conscientious Objector to war, and the Army is mad.

Sgt. Kevin Benderman, after serving one tour of duty in Iraq, filed for Conscientious Objector status, his Constitutional right. His commander refused to accept his application and one called him a coward. One chaplain was ashamed of his lack of moral fortitude, another, of higher rank, testified to the true sincerity of Sgt. Benderman’s beliefs, in writing. A military intelligence officer decided that he knew matters of the soul better than a man of God, and recommended to deny the CO claim. Five commissioned officers who had never met Sgt. Benderman agreed with the “intelligent officer” and the claim was denied, twice.

More than two weeks after my husband was placed in the Rear Detachment unit here at Ft. Stewart, charges of Missing Movement and Desertion were filed against him, even though he has never missed a single day of duty in almost ten years. At the first Courts Martial proceedings, the investigative hearing was over turned. According to the judge’s decision, the presiding officer had shown implied bias toward Sgt. Benderman, and a new hearing was ordered. As the session adjourned, the same command that brought the first charges were marching up the aisle in the courtroom to file a new charge, Larceny, against Sgt. Benderman.

The command that brought the charge, had erroneously ordered combat pay to be paid to Sgt. Benderman, along with 7 other soldiers in their unit. Rather than accept their responsibility for the error, these leaders chose to punish Sgt. Benderman for the mistake, and have yet to discipline any of the remaining soldiers for the officers’ gaffe.

The new investigating officer strongly recommended dismissing this larceny charge, but the convening authority, Ft. Stewart’s garrison commander, pressed on and filed the charges anyway, along with desertion and missing movement. The Courts Martial is scheduled to begin on July 28. The games began in January.

At the conclusion of the first hearing, I returned to the courtroom briefly for some things I had forgotten. The lights were dimmed, and no one was there. This small dark room, vintage WW II, had a reverent calm. Desks and chairs sat waiting, slightly turned, empty jurist panel, attorney’s podium – the stage had been set. I look back on it now, and the feeling is strangely surreal.

Last week we learned that the United States Supreme Court allows itself to keep the Ten Commandments hanging on the walls of its chambers, as a testimony to another form of law. The guardian of the Constitution of our country, presiding over the human rights of our people, maintains that the Ten Commandments, religious context aside, represent a form of law that is powerful enough to occupy a place in its chambers.

In a small, quiet courtroom, on the Ft. Stewart military installation, the stage is set. One soldier who, after firsthand experience with the destructive force of war, decided to take the Ten Commandments at their word – “Thou Shall Not Kill” – and use the rights given to him to declare his conscious objection to war, to no longer be in a position to voluntarily have to kill another human being, is now on trial for not wanting to kill.

The Army has removed itself so completely from its moral responsibility, that its representatives are willing to openly demand, in a court of law, that they be allowed to regain “positive control over this soldier” by finding him guilty of crimes he did not commit, and put him in jail – a prisoner of conscience, for daring to obey a moral law.

It is “hard work” to face the truth, and it is scary when people who are not afraid to face it begin to speak out. Someone once said that my husband’s case is a question of morality over legality. I pray that this country has not gone so far over the edge that the two are so distinctly different that we can tell them apart.

A sixteen year old in New York, was charged with involuntary manslaughter yesterday for stabbing another teen in the chest twice, over a computer game. There is no question of why. He broke a law – a legal, MORAL law – “Thou Shall Not Kill.”

After seeing war firsthand, Sgt. Kevin Benderman chose to follow a legal, MORAL law – “Thou Shall Not Kill.” A form of law significant enough to be represented on the walls of our Supreme Court. The US Army cannot let him go. I have to ask – “WHY?”

Thank you so much for the Q and A threads. My son is off to boot camp next month. He now goes armed with the info he did not have when he signed up.

Remember - DU is here for you.

Viva

who stood up for what they truly believed, the world would be a much different and better place. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I'll keep you in my prayers.

My thoughts will be with you!!! :hug:

For your tremendous courage in standing up for what's right, and good. How can we help during the 15 months?

:patriot:

I am so proud of you

in solidarity

Remember Nelson Mandella, remember Paul, and I will remember you.

There is a great Silent Swath of our society that supports you and for whom you have given a way to voice their concerns. I know that Mr. Benderman has declined to describe himself as heroic, but I'll certainly do it -- heroism is accepting the consequences of following your conscience without complaint or self-pity.

And you have both reinforced in me what our country truly stands for: TRUTH!

We will win our country back!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

:patriot:

you so much for your stand. What can we do for you?

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists their cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists their cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

May many more follow the trail you have blazed.

I am hoping for appeals or reduction in sentence.

In my thoughts and all my best to you both.

when he gets out and in the meantime, offer financial help.

Ooppossing this inane war means supporting the troops and world scurity.

If so, we need an address, please.

at his website. If you read my post below you will see that Monica doesn't yet know where he will be ~

This is Kevin's website http://bendermandefense.org/. There is a contact email which you can use to write to him there ~ :-)

A lot of the representatives in Congress could take a lesson from your portrait in courage!

the both of you!

--------------
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/072905I.shtml

In Praise of Kevin Benderman
By Norman Solomon
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Friday 29 July 2005

Conscience is not in the chain of command.

"Before being sentenced to 15 months for refusing to return to Iraq with his Army unit, Sgt. Kevin Benderman told a military judge that he acted with his conscience, not out of a disregard for duty," the Associated Press reports. Benderman, a 40-year-old Army mechanic, "refused to go on a second combat tour in January, saying the destruction and misery he witnessed during the 2003 Iraq invasion had turned him against war."

Three weeks ago, his wife Monica Benderman wrote: "He returned knowing that war is wrong, the most dehumanizing creation of humanity that exists. He saw war destroy civilians, innocent men, women and children. He saw war destroy homes, relationships and a country. He saw this not only in the country that was invaded, but he saw this happening to the invading country as well - and he knew that the only way to save those soldiers was for people to no longer participate in war. Sgt. Kevin Benderman is a Conscientious Objector to war, and the Army is mad."

On Thursday, at his court-martial, Kevin Benderman spoke. "Though some might take my actions as being against soldiers, I want everyone to be home and safe and raising their families," he said. "I don't want anyone to be hurt in a combat zone."

But the Pentagon is imposing its power to enforce the unconscionable.

..more..

NT!

Sgt. Kevin Benderman, An American Hero

by Hon. Cynthia McKinney

I speak with you today about one of America's heroes, Sgt. Kevin Benderman.

Sgt. Benderman is not a hero because he served a tour of duty in the Occupation of Iraq, though he did.

He is not a hero because of the medals he was awarded, nor his ten years of honorable service in the U.S. Army.

No, Sgt. Kevin Benderman is a hero because when all around him are pressing forward to prosecute a violent war against the people of Iraq, Kevin Benderman had the courage to stand up and assert his heartfelt opposition to war.

Sgt. Benderman's opposition is not the theoretical if sincere opposition of a student peace activist.

Kevin Benderman has seen things that none of God's children should have to endure. He was present when his superior ordered his unit to open fire on small children who were throwing rocks at the soldiers of his unit. He chased the hungry dogs from an open mass grave filled with the bodies of young children, old men and women.

Kevin saw the burned child, crying in pain, while all around her ignored her injuries.

As he reflected on what he had experienced, he chose to not re-enlist, to not participate in a war and an institution that he could no longer square with his evolving yet sincerely held beliefs.

But stretched by an immoral war, based on lies, beyond the limits of the resources afforded them, our military adopted a "stop loss order" policy to arbitrarily breech the contracts our nation made with those who serve in its military services.

More
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8928.htm

I'm so sorry for this decision and I'll do all I can to help.

Peace and thank you for your courage.

anarchy1999

I heard the two of them interviewed on Free SpeechRadioNews today. Available in archives at kpftx.org (probably at fsrn also).

And to think some that have murdered/tortured over there get almost nothing for their actions. For shame.:grr:

V
:grouphug: :hi:

I posted this in the earlier thread ~ will post again here ~

I don't think Monica will mind if I post this here ~ she posted it in the www.talknation.org forums, earlier today in the War forum actually, under the Support the Troops heading, should anyone want to visit her there ~

THANK YOU -- to everyone for supporting Kevin and me.

Kevin is currently in a local county jail -- but he is being treated
well. We are waiting to see where he will be going next, and what
will be happening.

The appeals process has been initiated - BUT -- Kevin has not
actually been convicted as yet. He is in prison, but the conviction
will not be official until the Convening Authority, Col. John Kidd,
has signed off on it. He cannot make the sentence any greater, but
he can reduce it. It's doubtful that he will do that, he has an
inordinate amount of disdain for me. The entire prosecution team,
including witnesses, all stood outside the doorway and laughed while
Kevin was walking to the van. They wanted to put him in shackles and
chains "so that the media could take pictures of him that way" but
his supervisor, the man they had placed in charge of that, refused to
do that, so Kevin walked freely. This supervisor has been very
supportive of Kevin from the start - and continues to be very upset
about what is happening, as he knows the truth.

Kevin could serve his entire sentence without Col. Kidd approving the
sentence, which means that he will have the potential to serve
without being convicted. The reason this is a possibility is that
until the sentence is confirmed, they cannot officially process the
appeal, and until the conviction is official, the defense team cannot
receive the full transcripts from the trial. Without these, they
cannot begin to create the brief to file for the appeal.

People need to be aware of this. Please... let people know just
what they are capable of.

Kevin is fine, and says THANK YOU for staying with him.

Love, Monica

so be tolerable. You are good, good people.

Some pictures from today's trial ~ my heart goes out to both of them ~

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?ei=UTF-8&p=kevin%2Bbenderman&c=news_photos

drives home the humanity of the situation. Brave but also fragile human beings confronting an inhuman, violent war machine.
They have taken a stand for humanity, for all of us.

Thank you.

You are true patriots. :patriot:

THANK YOU to everyone for your support. Kevin is strong. He is confident because he has seen the news and heard reports of the support he has. He still has little idea of just how strong and how widespread that support is. I tell him every time he calls. It just makes him feel that much better.

We are not done!!! We are going to fight hard and keep speaking out until we make the difference we want to make.

THANK YOU - for everything!!!

In Peace -

Monica and Kevin

and hang in there. As an Army brat whose father did two tours of duty in Vietnam and whose mother served as a military wife for most of her life, and as someone who had to pack up and change homes and schools my whole childhood, I understand the mentality of the military. I am disgusted by the pathetic response of the prosecution team you mentioned in your update to Kevin's ACQUITTAL on desertion charges. They simply refuse to admit they are wrong about this war. That refusal to face the truth has nothing to do with the truth.

Hang in there.

Thank you both and good luck in the future. I'm sorry the courts choose you to set an example. But I hope you will inspire others to do the courageous thing and refuse to fight Innocent people all for GB's glory, revenge and for protection and profit for all his buddies. He and his sadistic cohorts are the ones who really belong in jail. I've every hope that's where they'll end up for decades.

Bless you both!

As a veteran I thank you.:patriot:

to stand up for your beliefs. So many succumb without so much as a forethought of the total impact or consciousness of the ultimate outcome. I stand and applaud and admire you as a hero.

a few months back

all the best to you both in fighting the good fight

Sgt. Benderman:

You did right to avoid carrying out an illegal order.

History will vindicate your actions.

In the meantime, may we all do what we can to help restore the United States.

Good luck, Sergeant.

Angle is watching over both of you and God bless you both.
:patriot: O8)

for your courage
God Bless You both

some of them here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3701519&mesg_id=3701549&page=

and here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3711043

or do an author search on the user "monicab".

THANK YOU.

I can't believe the sentence- well yes I can but it's not just. All I know is that good people on this earth ARE indeed rewarded for their actions and I know you will go through these hard times with faith and love! You have our support and we're here for you.

Monica, if you read this, check your e-mail because I am I have something you may, just may, be interested in.

Love to both Kevin and Monica!

:yourock:

either, Tinoire, and wonder if there might be a way to get it reduced by writing to members of Congress, eg.

I see from what Monica said, that the military may not sign the conviction forms, delaying any appeal he might make because he can't appeal a conviction that hasn't been legitimized.

So, I have another question. If he is not technically convicted, why is he in jail?

If they want to play that game then they should release him until he is formally convicted. And then, even if that happens, why can't he be released while his appeal is pending?

Already though, Kevin is having an effect. These are pictures from a demonstration outside a recruitment office in Oakland which took place on the day of the conviction. Apparently they caused the office to close down.

<img
src="">


<img
src="">

More herehttp://www.indybay.org/news/2005/07/1756754.php

:applause:

Kevin has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for ALL of us.
:cry:

This is what the military and this administration really thinks of the troops. Kevin gave ten years of his life to his country. He served honorably, they said so themselves. He went to Iraq.

Then, he asked for a hearing ~ a simple request, to explain why his conscience would not permit him to return to Iraq. In response they lied, they trumped up charges against him, and never addressed the issues he raised. What are they afraid of? If their war was just, would they need to lash out like this? Would they be so short of recruits?

But then, lying has become a way of life for this administration, and covering up the lies. The military's obligation is to protect and defend the constitution. This week they disgraced themselves again.


There is an excellent posting here about what happened to Kevin www.talknation.org. Surely there is some way to do something about this injustice?

We need more brave and courageous people to stand up!

Thank you for all your hard work and sacrifice. My baby son thanks you too.

You are an honor to your county.

This is just a thank you -- I have posted in all the threads that I could see that have been in support of Kevin.

Tonight was difficult. I went to visit him at the jail where he is confined. It was hard -- he was wearing the typical black and white striped pajama style clothes -- and basic velcro white tennis shoes -- VERY UN-KEVIN. He is strong, though - and he is proud. I am proud of him - Kevin has done nothing wrong. We will fight this - we will not let them win - as much as they think they have.

Kevin is free -- they do not own him. It will stay that way. I will make sure of it. He will not be alone, he will not be forgotten and what he stands for will be expressed in every way that I know possible - as loudly as possible - in his honor and because he deserves it.

Thank you for being there for him. We both are grateful.

I love my husband. I am proud of him, and I am proud of all of the good people who support his work.

Fondly. Monica Benderman

shamed them. That's why they are so angry. His honor, his courage, his truthfulness, his very goodness, shames them and so they lash out.

Tonight must have been so difficult for you. But Kevin is a hero! He has upheld the principles he swore to defend and protect. Like so many heroes before him, he is singled out by those who envy his courage because they do not have what he has, goodness, strength of character and a commitment to truth and to what is right, no matter what the consequences are.

I was reminded of a hero from my country of origin, Ireland, when I read your post tonight. You may never have heard of him, his name was Robert Emmet. Those who maligned him and exacted the ultimate price when he dared to stand up for what was right, have gone down in history in infamy, while he, two hundred years later, is remembered as a great hero ~

Some of his last words may be familiar to you. He was a great and honorable man, like Kevin. Here are a few of the words he spoke, refusing to allow them to take away his honor.

I can imagine that on that day, two hundred years ago, they may have seemed victorious, but it was only a temporary illusion. Just as it will be for those who tried to take away Kevin's honor. That is not possible, they should have known better. They, too, will go down in history in infamy. We will make sure of that!

From a great Irish hero, Robert Emmet:

Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them. let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. I have done.

http://www.robertemmet.org/speech.htm

Robert Emmet got his wish. Their feeble attempts to mis-characterize him are lost to history and other, more honorable and honest men, did write his epitaph and what an epitaph it is! :-)

I don't think Kevin will have to wait very long, as Robert Emmet did. Already, around the world, he is recognized as a hero ~ but I just thought it might help to know that many great men have gone to jail, or died, as did Robert Emmet, for standing up for what is right.

Kevin's surroundings may not be too pleasant, but he is in very, very good company! :patriot:

when I heard the news there was a certain sense of heartbreak, a day to mourn our government's refusal to take even the smallest step toward acknowledging a citizen attempting to remind us all of our better angels. They try but fail to mute the higher voices of conscience and compassion. Kevin reminds us of those qualities that should be guiding our actions. There is a sense of redemption in that you have been telling us that we need not be cruel and brutal. We can do better than that. We are better than that!

(I hope that made some sense.)

--
"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, and kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places-and there are so many-where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility to send this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. This future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

-Howard Zinn
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And thank you.

Stand proud and tall, and know that so many people have ENORMOUS respect for you and your work.

Thanks for standing up so eloquently for peace!

Let us assist your family any way we can.