An Iraq Vet Fights For Access to Her Daughter

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all good things

Globals of IN 8:01AM October 03, 2009

my mother and father were divorced when I was 4 and she had full custody of me and my two brothers. I am grateful my mother had the maturity to help me continue to have a relationship with my father and not have their differences interfere with my having a father. I feel it is the responsibility of the father and the other adults in this girls life to help with the transition of this mother returning . This is what will help her grow into a healthy confident adult !! Good luck and blessings to all of you..

Sherry of CO 9:58PM September 03, 2009

if she can fight for our country we should at least let her be able to see her daughter for christ sake. she gave birth to her and took time off her duties and when your drafted for the army you have no choice but to go its the law not a choice. it was probably harder then S&*@# to be able not to see her for a year.

army wife of CO 4:51PM September 03, 2009

Amen to Muser of NM and David Cookson's comments. I will say, that this is why government, regardless of how big or small, is not a good advocate.
Having said that and assumming precedent, I'm not surprised about the outcome.
I'm somewhat conflicted having been a combat vet and now am a very devoted and committed father. I can readily see the dilema from both sides.
I believe that resolution lies in what's best for the child. Which scenario gives the child the most stable rearing environment? Dad who works 9-5 with weekends off, or Mom who, while not deployed, is certainly at the mercy of commanding officers and completing the mission mindset. In other words, she's maybe home, but they have "command and control" while she is active with the guard which often means motorpool duty, CQ (24 hr charge of quarters duty), live fire and night fire exercises, field ops, etc. Most of which is anything but 9-5.
Again, for service men and women, this is just one of the many costs associated with the freedoms we take for granted.
Hopefully this is used to illustrate the importance of responsible procreation.
Like Muser said "...a bum deal for the kid." No matter how you cut it, children are the innocent and disadvantaged.

David of ID 2:48PM September 02, 2009

Well this is a switch. Men have been dealt this dillemma for ages, and it seems like it's OK for that to happen. As I am not happy this happens to anybody in this country, it's a big switch when it happens to a woman, and one that is out fighting for her country.
The court system in this country that deals with child custody and divorce is a system that is full of breaking apart families and reaping the federal monies that come with people that pay into the child custody system known as the Friend of the Court. There are federal subsidies given to states when they have people paying into the system for child support. The more people that pay, the more federal subsidies, (MONEY!1).
Not to mention the lawyers involved and you know how much they want to charge.
I thought as a child and an adult, we all have the right to be a kid and be with our parents equally, and for our parents to be with us on the same basis.
Seems to me when it comes to the F.O.C. and the family court system, the best interest of the child is for the courts to collect as much money as possible, where are the constitutional rights for these children and parents that lose access to their children?

David Cookson of MI 10:14PM September 01, 2009