Vicky Hartzler is not a friend to the Leavenworth 10.  At parades she has refused literature and discussion about the Leavenworth 10 when approached by Fran Thexton, whose son William Hunsaker is one of the Leavenworth 10 soldiers.  Just like Ike Skelton, Hartzler refused to communicate or comment on the issue.

August 1, at the Republican picnic in Warrensburg, Fran had finally had enough and tried to get an answer from Hartzler.  Once again Hartzler did not reply to the question and refused to speak with Fran.  Hartlzer tried to make it look like Fran did not know what she was talking about and should not be at the event.  It is Hartzler and the people at this event that did not know what they are talking about.

In the spring of 2010 I had lunch with a person who has supported Hartzler in the campaign, provided a place for fund-raising events and donated money.  This person told me that Vicky Hartzler was a member of the Mennonite Church as he had gone to church with her.  At the picnic Vicky Hartzler said that she was raised as a Methodist and now attended the Harrisonville Community Church.  I am sure that is true.  What Hartzler did not tell is that the Harrisonville Community Church is the former Harrisonville Mennonite Church, which changed the name on July 1, 2010.  There has been no mention of change in doctrine or belief.

I am from a town with a large Amish/Mennonite community, and many of them are my friends. They are very dedicated to their faith and have not changed the name of their church since they moved into the area in the early 1950s and are not inclined to do so.

The Mennonite religion was founded by Meno Simon in the 1500s in order that his followers NOT have to serve in the military.  In the 1600s the Mennonites moved into North America to have the freedom to worship as they wish.  Do your own research.  The Mennonite religion is pacifist, they only serve the country that has been so good to them during the time of a draft.  When they do serve it is as a conscientious objector and generally work in hospitals or other similar job.  The Mennonite doctrine also shows a belief of open borders.

Is this the person you want in Congress?  The only change in her church is the name on the building.

The US Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, has been under lock-down since July 24 after an inmate was attacked and killed.  During this time of lock-down, only cold meals have been served and  no communication is allowed with family members.

Several supporters stopped by our booth Saturday evening at the Tea Party in Columbia, Mo., to sign the petition, purchase T-shirts and copies of “The ‘Good Soldier’ on Trial.”  Offering bottles of water and soda at 50 cents also helped to bring people to the booth.  Thanks to Walmart in Marshall, Mo., for donating six cases of soda.

The U.S. Disciplinary Barracks inmate who was hit with a baseball bat died Thursday.

Michael Fricke, a former Navy lieutenant commander, was struck July 24 when a fight broke out between Fricke and another inmate. Fricke, who was serving time for the 1988 murder of his wife, and was to be released on parole next month. The Virginia Pilot has more information on Fricke and his incident.

An inmate has been hospitalized at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks after he was hit with a baseball bat by another inmate. The inmates’ names were not released, but The Leavenworth Times has a short story on the incident. The inmate who was struck is in critical condition.

The U.S. Disciplinary Barracks is the U.S. military’s only maximum-security facility, and where our “Leavenworth 10″ are serving sentences.

Soldiers for Justice and Peace has created a store, offering T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, bags and mugs for sale. Soldiers for Justice and Peace earns 10 percent of the sale price of each item; that money will go directly to the Soldiers for Justice and Peace fund.

You can see all of the items at zazzle.com/goodsoldiers, or just click on “Merchandise” under “How to help” at the top of this page.

See an item you like, but it’s not available in the color or size you need? Let us know, and we’ll try to fix it.

Texas A&M sociology professor Stjepan Mestrovic talks about his book “The ‘Good Soldier’ on Trial: A Sociological Study of U.S. Military Misconduct in Iraq.”

Buy or download a copy of “The ‘Good Soldier’ on Trial”

Show your support for the Leavenworth 10 at the Sept. 4 Freedom Ride.

Motorcycles and vehicles of all kinds are welcome. The ride begins at 10 a.m.; staging begins an hour earlier south of Leavenworth, Kan., on Highway 73. Register at L10FreedomRide.com.

After the ride, join us at 10th Avenue Park, 10th Avenue at Gatewood Street, where families of the Leavenworth 10; retired Lt. Col. Allen West, a Florida congressional candidate; and Texas A&M University sociology professor Stjepan Mestrovic, author of “The ‘Good Soldier’ on Trial,” will speak. Entertainment and food will be available.

See you there!

Spc. William “Bill” B. Hunsaker of Warrensburg, Mo., is serving an 18 year sentence for the murder of three Iraqis after receiving an order to kill all military-age males in the area.

Hunsaker joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman in 2001. He served in Korea and Iraq, attended Army Ranger school and earned the rank of specialist as a parachutist in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Hunsaker began his tour in Iraq on Aug 7, 2005. On May 9, 2006, the 101st Airborne’s 3rd Brigade landed near Tikrit in the Salahuddin Province. They had been told the area was an al-Qaida stronghold, and were given explicit orders to “kill all military-age males.” As the soldiers went through the town, they separated the male detainees from the women and children, binding their wrists with zip ties. Pfc. Corey R. Clagett said he tried to reinforce the restraints on a detainee when he and Hunsaker were attacked.

“I just got blindsided on my left side, and I just got hit in the face,” Clagett told ABC News in an August 2006 interview. “I spun around, staggered a little, spun around. I lost my vision. … Came back to and I saw this guy running, and I just picked up right in between both of them and I just fired.”

In all, four Iraqi men were killed that day. The operation, dubbed Iron Triangle, resulted in the detention of 200 suspected terrorists and confiscation of weapons and propaganda materials at an insurgent training camp southwest of the city. An internal inquiry into the incident was ordered; Hunsaker and Clagett believed the matter had been resolved.

A month later, a different account of the incident was presented: Another member of the battalion said he had witnessed a deliberate plot by Hunsaker, Clagett, Staff Sgt. Raymond Girouard and Spc. Juston R. Graber to kill the three Iraqis, and that the only injuries the soldiers sustained were self-inflicted. Other soldiers came forward to support the new story.

Hunsaker, Clagett, Girouard and Graber were arrested and charged with premeditated murder, attempted premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder and making false official statements. The Army recommended they receive the death penalty if convicted.

After eight months of legal battles, Graber agreed to testify against Hunsaker, Clagett and Girouard in return for a lesser charge of aggravated assault. He plead guilty to a “mercy killing” — shooting one of the Iraqis in the head as the man lay dying — and was sentenced to nine months in prison; upon his release, he petitioned to complete his service in the Army and re-enlisted.

Facing mandatory life sentences, Hunsaker, Clagett and Girouard entered plea deals that reduced their maximum sentence to 18 years. Hunsaker was convicted of two counts of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Col. Michael D. Steele, who had issued the kill order, received a letter of reprimand for his actions and was granted immunity.

Write to him at:
William B. Hunsaker
Reference #82476
1300 N. Warehouse Road
Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027

Read the biographies of the rest of the “Leavenworth 10.”

Hi, my name is Fran Thexton and I am the mother of William Hunsaker, one of the Leavenworth 10. Bill wanted me to pass along his thanks and gratitude for your support, as do I, not only for himself but for the rest of his comrades. There will be more of them, we fear.

God bless … and thank you again.