Adam Kemp
The Oklahoman
via Stars and Stripes
3/14/2014
Former U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna stepped out of a van Friday morning just outside the walls of the U.S. Discplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, having just served five years for killing an Iraqi.
His longtime girlfriend, Shannon Wahl, sprinted towards him, nearly knocking Behenna over.
Dressed in an orange hoodie, his head shaved and sporting a short, trimmed beard, Behenna was soon surrounded by his family. They hugged, gathered in a small circle and prayed before quickly leaving. They stopped a short distance later at a community center, where Behenna sat down for an exclusive interview with The Oklahoman.
“It’s overwhelming; I can’t put into words what today means,” Behenna said. “I can’t wait to get home.”
Behenna, 30, is returning to Edmond, Okla., with his family in hopes of picking up his life where he left off.
Behenna won parole Feb. 12 after serving a third of a 15-year sentence, convicted in 2009 of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone…
The article continues at Stars and Stripes.
Related articles at the site:
- Behenna release energizes church
- Former soldier wins parole after Iraqi murder conviction
- Michael Behenna: Ex-Army Ranger may pursue exoneration, lawyer says
- Family members seek parole for 1st Lt. Michael Behenna
- Stories about 1st Lt. Michael Behenna
CAJ’s articles about Lt. Behenna are here.
