Thursday March 28, 2024
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

Feb-02-2012 11:34printcomments

A Marine Corps Widow Needs Your Support

2,344 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

Marine Colonel Michael Ross Stahlman
Marine Colonel Michael Ross Stahlman

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - ATTN: President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Representative Henry Waxman, Bonnie Carroll and the Honorary Board Members of TAPS:

On July 31, 2008, Marine Colonel Michael Ross Stahlman was found with a gunshot wound to his head in his room at Camp Ramadi. Colonel Stahlman was still alive when the first responders arrived and life saving measures immediately ensued. Unfortunately, those efforts were futile and Colonel Stahlman died months later on October 5, 2008 in Bethesda Maryland. He was never conscious or capable of purposeful movement from the moment he was shot until the moment he died.

This tragedy was immediately assumed a suicide by military investigators. Therefore, a proper investigation was not performed. Colonel Stahlman’s widow and wife of more than 20 years never believed he took his own life. Although this is a natural occurrence for grieving family members, Kimberly Stahlman had solid reasons to doubt the assumption of suicide and she has spent the years since her husband’s death putting together a highly qualified team of investigators to address the legal and forensic issues needed to have his official cause of death changed from “suicide” to “homicide.” She is not seeking this change for money; she was not denied life insurance money or benefits for her and Mike’s children.

We are addressing this issue to you because you are in the best position to help this surviving military family. Senator Lindsey Graham’s office reviewed the case in its early stages and found no reason to intervene, but he left Kimberly Stahlman with specific instructions that she return to him for assistance if she found further evidence.

Since that time, a complete forensics examination has occurred using a mountain of evidence that was not available at the time of Senator Graham’s inquiry. Despite this, nobody from Senator Graham’s office has responded to Kimberly Stahlman’s requests to hold a face-to-face meeting in which the forensics team can make a formal presentation of this evidence. At this point in time, no individual and no government/military official has agreed to allow such a meeting.

Kimberly Stahlman was and is a devoted Marine Corps wife and patriotic American. This devotion did not change with her husband’s murder. She has had many opportunities to take this situation into a public arena and has declined every offer because she wanted to give the Marine Corps a chance to correct this egregious error without public embarrassment. Repeatedly, she has extended the olive branch to the offices and individuals in a position to allow her case to be heard and repeatedly she has been denied that right. The American people who are signing this petition want this surviving military family to have their day of justice.

By signing this petition they are imploring you all to do the right thing and provide justice to a man who devoted his entire life to the Marine Corps and service to the United States of America.

Colonel Stahlman and his wife, children, parents and siblings deserve and have indeed earned the right to have this case heard and followed up with a thorough and proper investigation based on ALL of the evidence available. Please do not disgrace this surviving military family by ignoring their plea.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Colonel-Michael-R-Stahlman-USMC/180111832016532

End Israeli apartheid




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.


[Return to Top]
©2024 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for February 1, 2012 | Articles for February 2, 2012 | Articles for February 3, 2012
Click here for all of William's articles and letters.




Special Section: Truth telling news about marijuana related issues and events.

Annual Hemp Festival & Event Calendar

Support
Salem-News.com: