hmmm... now his father adds "he needed a job" as a reason Brandon joined the Army.
From the Seattle Times report:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001923229_mayfield08m.html Portland man innocent in Madrid train bombing, family says
By Hal Bernton and David Heath, Seattle Times staff reporters
.....Neighbors say the family has been friendly, reaching out with offerings of baklava over the Christmas holidays and recently helping to rescue a cat stuck in a tree.
A family friend who spent time with Mona Mayfield yesterday said the family thinks the Spanish evidence is flawed and that Brandon Mayfield has been unfairly targeted as an American Muslim convert.
Mayfield's brother, Kent, an art teacher at a junior high school in Halstead, said , "My brother has never condoned violence. He is an advocate for change. He is critical of the Bush administration. If that's a crime, that's the only crime he's committed."
A sister, Amy Sikes of Hutchinson, said, "He's just a wonderful man. He's very loving and gentle."
Mayfield joined the Army because he needed a job and wanted to serve his country, family members said.
"You couldn't find anybody who's more apple pie than Brandon," said his father.
While serving at Fort Lewis, he met his future wife, Mona, who is from Egypt. Mayfield later converted to Islam. The couple last left the country 10 years ago to visit family in Egypt, Alexander, the former stepmother, said.
Mayfield has practiced law since 2000 from a small office in a business park.
He was "a perfect tenant" who always paid his rent on time and never drew any complaints from other businesses that share the park, according to Sharon Brown, of Lawrence Investments, which manages the property.
Most of the time, Mayfield worked alone without a secretary, though sometimes his wife came to help, according to Brian Lamson, an insurance agent in a nearby office.
.....Some of Mayfield's practice involved immigration law. Portland attorney Dagmar Butte said Mayfield called her a few times for advice on cases and she urged him to join an association of immigration lawyers for support. But he never did.
Mayfield's dented red Chevrolet Corsica remained parked outside his office yesterday.
An FBI receipt for "properties received" sat on a front seat, listing items seized, including: business cards, audiocassettes and driving directions from MapQuest, an Internet service.
Mayfield and his family attended services at Beaverton's Bilal Mosque, where his wife and daughter wore hidjab scarves, the traditional head coverings for Muslim women.
Mayfield is remembered at the mosque as a respectful, decent man, who volunteered during weekends to teach English to African Muslim immigrants.
"He was very much an American, and we needed a white guy for the right accent," said Shahrir Ahmed, president of the mosque.
"He wanted them to learn, so they could become engaged and become part of the system."