The Hensleys do not know when or where the trial will be held. The U.S. Military in Iraq did not respond to inquries from the Citizen-Times about the case Tuesday.The couple have been in contact with U.S. Rep. Health Shuler’s office, and they said their son has hired a civilian lawyer, who is awaiting security clearance.
From an email link also at the Citizen-Times: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?URL=/templates/ArticleMultiMediaPopup.pbs&dato=20070808&lopenr=70807132&Category=NEWS01&Params=Id=81823
Dear Ms Bompey,As you will recall, FOXNEWS and CNN, at the end of June or first of July, wrote some articles concerning our son, SSGT Michael A. Hensley and his being charged with 3 counts of premeditated murder for simply doing his job as a soldier in Iraq. Then, the Asheville Citizen-Times also wrote some articles about this story. It was at this time that Lindsay Nash asked us for our comments about our son’s situation.
We are very concerned and upset at the situation our son is in and wanted to give you an update about how things have progressed. Michael has been held in confinement in Kuwait ever since the charges were brought against him. The Army has recently completed the Article 32 hearing for our son’s case; and the decision has been made for the case to go to trial.
Our son Michael is a soldier. America sent Michael to Iraq to do a job. Now he is being charged with crimes for doing that job. There is something very wrong with that picture. All of our son’s kills were legitimate and he is innocent of all charges; and these charges should be dropped. We also feel that the Army has a responsibility in all of this. Last year Michael witnessed the death of a close friend (a fellow soldier), when a roadside bomb went off and blew off his leg. Then, 2 months later, Michael received a message from the Red Cross that his fiance had died. She had died as a result of an overdose related to her depression. She had been very worried about Michael’s safety in Iraq. Michael stayed in contact with her and when he returned late from a mission she accidently took too much medication. She was found dead in her apartment 2 days later. Michael was allowed to go to Alaska for 2 weeks leave to bury her and help her parents. Then he was sent back to combat in Iraq.
Upon returning to Iraq, Michael was put in a sniper section and told by his Battalion Commander, LtCol Robert M. Balcavage that he “wanted a body count” from our son. The Command Sgt Major, Bernie Knight, said to Michael: “Sgt Hensley your job as a sniper is to conduct premeditated murder.” Our son was told by his superiors that they wanted kills no matter what it took. Then, as soon as the legitimacy of Michael’s kills came into question, these 2 men turned their back on our son and accused him of crimes.
LtCol Balcavage and SgtMaj Knight are not without responsibility, but nothing is being said about them. Again, we want to reaffirm that our son is innocent of all charges and all his kills were legitimate and he was only doing his job. I think it is a shame and disgrace for America to send our boys to war and then to accuse them of crimes for doing their job and fighting for America.
In May, 1998 our oldest son, David, was injured while serving in the 3rd Ranger Battalion at Ft Benning, Georgia. He was injured when a live grenade went off behind him in a practice. He never regained full use of his leg and was disabled as a result and later got out of the Army and his career was ended. LtCol Balcavage was David’s CO at that time, the same man that wants to ruin Michael’s life.
Michael has 2 military lawyers, but has hired a civilian lawyer to help in the case as well. I have received word from the civilian lawyer that he is having a lot of difficulty in receiving a security clearance from the Army, which he needs to work for Michael in the case against him. This is a capital offense our son is being charged with and, if convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison, all for simply doing his job and fighting for America, a cause that Michael believes in. The question that comes to my mind is who is the real enemy?!
Respectfully,
Bill & Jannette Hensley