|
September 7, 2007
An appeal from the parents of
Army Sgt. Evan Vela
We are the proud parents of a soldier. We are Curtis G. Carnahan and Anna Vela of St. Anthony,
Idaho. Our son, Evan, has been wrongly accused of the murder of a
military-age Iraqi male in Iraq.
Of our four children, two serve in the US
Armed Forces. Evan is in the Army, and Cory is an active six-year
veteran in the Navy. Evan has served for three years and is currently
a Sergeant. He is married with a family. Evan and his wife, Alyssa
have two children, a son, Jarom, who is four years old, and a
daughter, Blair, who is 5 months old. His unit, the 1st
Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort
Richardson, Alaska, has served tough assignments in Iraq.
On or about June 23rd of 2007,
our son, Sergeant Evan Vela, was engaged in combat action in
Iskandariyah, one of the most dangerous areas in Iraq known as the
“Triangle of Death.” Evan was a member of a sniper scout squad that
operated for nearly nine continuous months behind enemy lines.
Evan has been charged with one count of
premeditated murder of a military-age Iraqi male, planting weapons,
false official statement, and obstruction of justice. The charges
against Evan carry the possibility of confinement for life without
parole. These charges are the result of our son being put into an
impossible and untenable situation in Iraq. Evan is being held in a
Field Confinement Facility in Kuwait, and the Army is trying to rush
him to trial in Baghdad. The Army intends to hold Evan’s trial in
Iraq, even if his unit redeploys to Alaska before the trial is
conducted.
We know and believe in our son. He is no
murderer. For the last year, Evan has been fighting for our country
and our way of life. Evan has served our country with honor, pride
and distinction. Evan has proven his bravery by volunteering for the
Army, becoming a paratrooper, an expert infantryman, and for
service in Iraq. Our son is a patriot and a hero. Evan needs help.
Our son is represented by the law firm of
Gary Myers, James Culp, and Associates. Gary Myers is a former JAG
Officer, and James Culp is a former JAG Officer, paratrooper and
infantry sergeant. Mr. Myers and Mr. Culp only practice military law,
and do so worldwide.
Mr. Myers and Mr. Culp have extended
themselves greatly for our family, and are doing everything possible
in defense of Evan. Though they are attempting to get Evan’s trial
moved to the United States, Mr. Culp is willing to put himself in
harm’s way by flying into Baghdad where the hearings are currently
scheduled to be held.
We are proud Americans. We fly our
country’s flag with pride at our home. We are a hard working,
blue-collar family who has always believed that we could take care of
our own problems, as well as those of our children. Yet in this
instance, our family has exhausted all of our resources. We have
mortgaged our home, drained our savings accounts, and gotten as much
help from family and friends as possible. We have given our children
and our financial security to this war. What lies ahead is beyond the
scope of our abilities. We have nothing more to give and desperately
need your help.
We have established a trust fund for Evan.
Mr. William R. Forsberg, Attorney at Law, Rexburg, Idaho has set up
the fund, and Mr. Brad Smith, CPA, also of Rexburg is the fund’s
Trustee. We are appealing to our fellow Americans to help our
son by contributing to the Sergeant Evan Vela Defense Fund.
Your contributions can be made in person at any Key Bank office
across the country, or by mail at:
Evan Vela Defense Fund
Key Bank
C/O Ann Marie Chaffin
1625 Northgate Mile
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
For more information about Gary Myers,
James Culp & Associates click at the
link.
Thank you.
May God bless America and our troops,
Curtis G. Carnahan & Anna Vela |
