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A letter from Haditha Marine parents [LCpl Stephen Tatum]
Defend Our Marines ^ | May 31, 2007 | John & Stephanie Tatum

Posted on 05/31/2007 3:17:53 AM PDT by RedRover

We are the proud parents of a Marine. Our names are John & Stephanie Tatum. Mr. Zimmermann, a retired USMC colonel from Houston, Texas is our son’s attorney.

Of our four sons, one is in the Army and one is in the Marines. They both have served two tours of duty in Iraq. Stephen, our Marine is a Lance Corporal. He and his units have served in two of the toughest assignments. One was in Fallujah in 2004, and the other in Haditha in 2005. He has served his country and flag with great honor and pride. He was well led and well-trained to fight foreign Islamic terrorists and Iraqi insurgents.

In November 2005 Stephen’s convoy was ambushed in a coordinated attack. A buried bomb blew up a humvee, killing the Marine driver and wounding two others. Snipers then fired from a nearby house at Marines who came to their rescue. The platoon leader and squad leader then ordered the house to be cleared, which our son and three others did, room by room. A second house was cleared the same way. Stephen’s company was involved in a series of attacks on them for most of that day. When the fighting stopped, it was discovered that there were some women and children who had been in two of the houses that were cleared. Stephen, a religious person, feels absolutely terrible about these deaths.

Stephen has been charged with six homicides, two carrying possible life sentences.

We believe in our son and know he has done nothing wrong. Nor, that he has dishonored his country or the uniform he wears with great pride, dedication and respect.

We are hard working people, and so do not like to ask for help. The Marine Corps cannot pay for civilian lawyers, but we have taken out a second mortgage on our home and used our savings to defend our son. We need help for expert witnesses, from pathology to scene reconstruction, to ballistics, and others. It is very important that we have our own witnesses and experts.

Besides our own relatives and friends, I asked Mr. Zimmermann, who has cut his fee in half, if he might know people that would be willing to send $50.00 or $100.00 dollars to a legal defense fund that has been set up. If enough people do so, we may be able to raise the $50,000 or more needed for experts, investigators, travel, witnesses and lodging expenses. The case is in Camp Pendleton, California. Should there be extra money, it will all go to a College Fund for the families of Marines who have lost their lives in the service of our country.

An Article 32 hearing will be held in the very near future, and we need to move forward quickly. If you can help, please send what you can to the fund administrator, Mr. Christopher M. Odell, Attorney at Law. Attached is the information on the legal defense fund.

Thank you,

John & Stephanie


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; haditha; iraq

Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum

_________________________________

I heard from the Tatum family for the first time last night and wanted to share their message.

Many of you have an idea of what a lance corporal earns. Legal bills will wipe out the families financially, regardless of the outcome of the hearings.

I hope you'll consider helping, and spreading the word.

I'll send the Tatums a link to this thread so leave them a message, if you wish.

Many thanks!

1 posted on 05/31/2007 3:17:58 AM PDT by RedRover
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To: 4woodenboats; aculeus; American Cabalist; AmericanYankee; AndrewWalden; Antoninus; AliVeritas; ...

2 posted on 05/31/2007 3:25:52 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: RedRover

Thanks Red, will pass it on.


3 posted on 05/31/2007 5:05:07 AM PDT by AliVeritas (The greatest in the world! America, twenty million illegal aliens can't be wrong! -Jeni)
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To: AliVeritas

Thanks for helping spread the word, A.V.!


4 posted on 05/31/2007 5:11:47 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: RedRover

Mr. and Mrs. Tatum - I also believe that your son did nothing whatsoever to dishonor the Marines or our Country. I believe that your son is one of the many heroes whose actions in Haditha prevented further loss of life for the Marines who have sacrificed so much for us. I am angry and so very sad that your son and the other Marines charged in the Haditha incident are being persecuted for political gain. This is nothing more than a political witchhunt spurred by a terrorist supporting propagandist and an ex-Marine looking for some political power.

May God bless you, your son and all the other soldiers and families who have (and continue) to sacrifice so much for all of us - even those who continue to undermine the mission.


5 posted on 05/31/2007 6:31:46 AM PDT by Chickenhawk Warmonger (The Media Lied & Soldiers Died)
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To: RedRover
Thanks for posting, Red.

Mr. and Mrs. Tatum,

We support your son Stephen and the other Haditha Marines. God Bless you all.

If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

Military Combat Defense Fund


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

6 posted on 05/31/2007 7:39:17 AM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: RedRover

Welcome to FR Tatum family. Glad you are here, hope we can help!


7 posted on 05/31/2007 10:57:58 AM PDT by lilycicero (SSgt Frank Wuterich wins award for Vanity Fair.)
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To: Girlene

Psst over here.


8 posted on 05/31/2007 3:14:47 PM PDT by lilycicero (SSgt Frank Wuterich wins award for Vanity Fair.)
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To: Girlene

Psst over here.


9 posted on 05/31/2007 3:15:12 PM PDT by lilycicero (SSgt Frank Wuterich wins award for Vanity Fair.)
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To: Girlene

Oops...one psst was enough.


10 posted on 05/31/2007 3:16:12 PM PDT by lilycicero (SSgt Frank Wuterich wins award for Vanity Fair.)
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To: RedRover

Thanks for the ping. Will see what I can do.


11 posted on 05/31/2007 5:23:43 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: RedRover; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; AirForceBrat23; ...

Ping to Red’s Post #1


12 posted on 05/31/2007 7:09:47 PM PDT by freema (Marine FRiend, 1stCuz2xRemoved, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: freema

Responded in kind. I do hope this family as well as the others involved shall somehow make it through this mess, with the money and letter support many people can provide.


13 posted on 05/31/2007 7:17:12 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: RedRover

This is Criminally sad.


14 posted on 05/31/2007 7:17:18 PM PDT by RaceBannon (Innocent until proven guilty: The Pendleton 8...down to 3..GWB, we hardly knew ye...)
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To: RedRover

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tatum.

I believe in your son.
Prayers.


15 posted on 05/31/2007 7:18:18 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: RedRover

To Stephen and his Family -

Stay Strong! Stephen you did the job you were trained to do. I’m sorry, and I am very angry, that you have to go through this. Keeping the faith that the outcome of your Article 32 will be ALL good for you.


16 posted on 06/01/2007 7:04:51 AM PDT by ticked
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