PLYMOUTH - Lawrence Hutchins Jr. was talking about the murder charges his Marine son faces in connection with the death of an Iraqi civilian, when he left the room and quietly brought back a letter. ‘‘Here,’’ he said. ‘‘This will tell you all you need to know about my son.’’

Marine Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III had written to his family from the brig in Camp Pendleton, telling each of them how much he loved and missed them.

To his father, Hutchins wrote: ‘‘Words may never be able to express how thankful I am to have been blessed by God with a family like you.’’

To his mother Kathleen: ‘‘Thank you for being everything you have been to me my whole life.’’

To his brother Kurt: ‘‘I love with you that all I am.’’

And to his fiancee Reyna Griffin, mother of their 21-month-old daughter: ‘‘I long to hold you so badly in my arms again.’’

Military prosecutors allege Hutchins was one of seven Marines who, along with a Navy corpsman, kidnapped an Iraqi man from his home, tied him up, put him in a hole by the side of a road and sprayed him with bullets, then sought to cover up the crime by making it appear the man was armed and attempting to plant explosives.

The Hutchinses and other families of the accused are rallying around the men, organizing fundraisers and attempting to draw attention to what they say is an unfair prosecution.

The men are charged with premeditated murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and making false statements. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.

Griffin and Hutchins’ father spoke emotionally yesterday, saying the young Marine they know is a loving man who cherishes his family and would not be capable of the actions he is accused of.

Lawrence Hutchins Jr. said he is proud to openly defend his son’s character.

‘‘They were treated as though they were guilty, right off the bat, from our own people,’’ he said of the eight men. ‘‘Shackles, handcuffs, lights on 24 hours a day.’’

Griffin said she has known Hutchins since the two attended Plymouth South High School. They both graduated in 2002, and Hutchins entered the military right away.

He made sergeant in less than four years in the Marines and was commended early on for his dedication to service, family members said.

In 2004 his platoon sergeant wrote: ‘‘Lance Corporal Hutchins is a marine with ability and potential to accomplish any task that would be usually reserved for someone both senior in rank and experience.’’

Griffin gave birth to Hutchins’ daughter, Kylie Lynn, now 21 months old, and is living with his family in Manomet.

Griffin and Hutchins became engaged a week or so ago, over the phone from the brig to Plymouth.

‘‘He asked me,’’ she said. ‘‘And I told him that I will always stand by his side, no matter what happens.

‘‘He’s a good Marine. He’s been loyal to this country. And there’s no way that he could ever do anything like this. I know in my heart that he wouldn’t.’’

Griffin and Hutchins’ brother, Kurt, are planning to go to Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, Calif., to visit Hutchins later this month. Other family members plan to go shortly afterwards.

Kathleen Hutchins said her son was about to enlist for another four years before he was arrested.

In the letter to his family, Hutchins told his mother: ‘‘You are my secret weapon, only used when needed but devastating to my enemies nonetheless. I knew when word had reached you, you would not settle down until you got to the bottom of this.

‘‘And believe it or not, I knew you would be the strongest pillar in the family.’’

Hutchins also wrote that he was homesick.

‘‘The hardest part about being here is thinking about home,’’ he wrote. ‘‘I guess I didn’t have time to think in Iraq, or the past 3½ years in the corps. Now all I have is time.’’