This from a military run by the number one Deserter-In-Chief...
A New Hampshire National Guard member charged with desertion while trying to get custody of her daughter planned to turn herself in Tuesday at Fort Dix, her lawyer said.
Spc. Lisa Hayes, 32, of Rindge, left at 2 a.m. to drive to Fort Dix with her 7-year-old daughter, Brystal, said lawyer Linda Theroux, who represented Hayes in the custody case.
Hayes, who went on emergency leave from the Army in February after learning of possible domestic violence in her ex-husband's home, faces up to two years in military prison for staying in New Hampshire after her leave expired.
So much for family values.
So much for supporting our TROOPS!
Ironic doesn’t even begin to describe the treatment of this fighting mom by our military. More like obscene.
Hayes was serving her second tour in Iraq when police in Dublin, N.H., told her they had twice gone to the home of her ex-husband, Tim Knight, on domestic violence calls. Knight had primary custody of Brystal.
snip...
Hayes got leave from Iraq to attend a family court hearing at the end of February.
A marital master gave her temporary custody, finding that Knight's "use and abuse of alcohol" and a stormy relationship with Brown made his home an unsuitable environment for Brystal. The marital master ordered a fuller investigation by a court-appointed guardian.
Hayes' leave was extended twice, but it expired March 25. She tried, but failed, to get an extension, a hardship discharge or a transfer to New Hampshire. She was declared AWOL when she did not report for duty in Iraq, and 30 days later the desertion charge was filed.
I know a lot of our troops have problems at home but this poor woman didn’t have custody of her daughter when she was deployed so there was no reason for her to make other arrangements for the care of her precious baby girl. Shit happens and I can’t for the life of me understand why the Army couldn’t find some way to let her stay in NH to work things out in court to make sure her daughter was in a safe place.
There’s no excuse – NONE – for throwing this poor woman in prison. All she did was try to arrange for the care of her child. As a mother – I’m incensed – outraged at the treatment of this single parent. If the military – the Republicans in charge really cared about family values and about our troops, they’d find some way to allow this mother to finish what she needs to do in the courts and arrange for a safe place for her little girl.
Hayes’ quote at the end of the article says it all...
"I can't serve my country at my daughter's expense,"
This war needs to end dammit. Our troops have sacrificed enough for the lies and high crimes of our Deserter-In-Chief.
Bring them home now - ALL OF THEM!
UPDATE
A few people have suggested we contact the Senators from NH and ask them to intervene on behalf of Lisa Hayes. So to this end, here's the contact information for them...
Senator Judd Gregg's
Contact Form on his web-site
Washington, DC Office:
393 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Main: (202) 224-3324
Manchester, NH Office:
Main: (603) 622-7979
Nashua, NH Office:
Main: 603-577-3823
Concord, NH Office:
Main: (603) 225-7115
Portsmouth, NH Office:
Main: (603) 431-2171
Berlin, NH Office:
Main: (603) 752-2604
And Senator John Sununu's Contact Form
BERLIN
(603) 752-6074
FAX (603) 752-6423
CLAREMONT
(603) 542-4872
FAX (603) 542-6582
MANCHESTER
(603) 647-7500
FAX (603) 647-9352
NASHUA
(603) 577-8960
FAX (603) 577-8965
PORTSMOUTH
(603) 430-9560
FAX (603) 430-0058
WASHINGTON, DC
111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2841
FAX (202) 228-4131