The Military Combat Defense Fund regrets to announce that we are in the process of shutting down our operation. This come after much soul searching and reflection. With the termination of the Staff Sergeant Frank Wuiterich USMC Case, we have finished what we started at the beginning of the Hiditha incident. We believe we have been faithful to our original intent, which is to see all of our servicemen, charged with a crime as a result of a direct combat, receive the best possible defense. While it may be true that not all trials were fair and impartial, in our eyes, we remained committed to supporting those men.

It has been a difficult and emotionally draining experience. no one on the Board of Directors, including our attorney, received one dime in compensation. The outpouring of support from decent Americans and the gratitude of those charged and their families, has made it all worth it.

Many still remain unfairly, in our opinion, incarcerated. A prime example being Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III USMC. This fine Marine is the prime example of someone being made a scapegoat for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We pray for justice to finally to prevail in his case.

Please continue to support our troops. They are the finest in the world and they serve under the most difficult circumstances.

Illness and retirements make it impossible to continue. It is for the reasons that the Military Combat Defense Fund will cease to operate starting 1 May 2012.