Mom caught in custody fight also battling Army over return to Iraq - Soldier declared AWOL...

SF Gate ^ | 11/11/03 | David Kelly

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Simone Holcomb was a soldier motivated by duty and honor who knew the sacrifices her job required and performed without complaint.

That all changed when the 30-year-old National Guard medic, who spent the last eight months nursing wounded soldiers in Iraq, was forced to make a stark choice -- the Army or her children.

[military cop]

The powers that be in the army better do the right thing in this case.

[68skylark]

"Soldier - Mother Reassigned to Fort Carson; for compassionate reasons"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1019203/posts

This story says the soldier has been reassigned to Ft. Carson. So overall it looks like the Army is taking care of this odd situation in a more or less reasonable manner.

[GrandEagle]

was forced to make a stark choice -- the Army or her children.
What on earth is a couple with 7 children doing BOTH enlisting in the military? That is just irresponsible.

[StatesEnemy]

This is ridiculous.

The flippen rear echelon pencil pushers better get their thumbs from out of their collective @ss, and do right by our citizen soldiers.

[lady lawyer]

This woman and Jessica Lynch are prime illustrations of why women shouldn't be in the military.

[colorado tanker]

She has been reassigned but the Army has not dropped legal action. I hope this will be resolved now that Senator Allard is involved.

[netmilsmom]

>>Holcomb was attached to an Army National Guard unit in Montrose, Colo., that was called up to serve in Iraq.<<

If she had this many kids, why did she join the National Guard? Duh. Wanted the bennies but did not think about the consequences!!!!

[68skylark]

I hate it when politicians get involved in Army business -- it usually turns out badly.

From the tone of your post, it sounds like you'd like to see this resolved with no penalties to the mother. (Sorry if I'm mis-reading your post.) Anyway, I feel there has to be some penalties, because otherwise the Army has just set a precedent that other parents can try to exploit to avoid dangerous or unpleasant missions. The penalties don't have to be harsh -- just enough to make a point to others that they cannot easily shirk their duty. We have to think of the big picture here.

[Mo1]

I'm grateful for her and her husbands service to our country .. but in all honestly, she should have quit the reserves and tended to her children instead

[colorado tanker]

I agree the Army has to have policies in place so that a soldier on leave can't just decide not to return to duty.

My sympathy with this situation is that no matter what this women does she is violating a legal duty imposed by the Army or the State of Colorado. I think that calls for some compassion and discretion.

BTW, what I've seen little focus on is the actions of the husband's ex in taking advantage of the couple's deployment as grounds to change custody, which is pretty scummy IMHO.

[Razwan]

You know, as a single parent (since '97) in the US Army...just feel like I have to comment

She had a viable plan to care for her kids when she was deployed, her ex just took the fact that she was gone to exploit the situation. No penalties should be attached to the Mom

Jeez, she joined the Nasty Guard...no benefits except while you are on duty (one weekend a month)...probably wanted to supplement her income, didnt whine when she was deployed...What else do you want from her???

[PLMerite]

"probably wanted to supplement her income.."

The military has become an alternative to welfare for some. I especially like the women who join the military (single), get pregnant (still single) and stay in for the benefits. I've seen it done more than once...a lot more.

[Spok]

Ditto. People should think this kind of decision (enlisting) through before they do it. Why do so many think the rules should change after the game has started?

[Orangedog]

probably wanted to supplement her income

Then she should have taken a weekend job at Walmart. It is damned irresponsible to have 7 kids with BOTH parents in the military...a situation where those 7 kids could lose both parents.

[waterstraat]

What if every soldier who was a father or mother, wanted to go AWOL? She should be punished as any other AWOL soldier.

I dont see why any exception should be made in this case.

She wasnt drafted, she joined.

[68skylark]

I agree with you that it sounds like she's a good person who has gotten caught up in something that she probably couldn't have forseen. I certainly wouldn't want the Army to take out any harsh penalties on her (like jail time).

On the other hand, whenever deployment orders go out there are some people who will try to "game" the system to avoid unpleasant duty. If we let parents avoid a deployment when an ex-spouse kicks up a fuss or files a suit, it's opening the door to a few people to avoid their duty in the future.

I don't think there should be any harsh penalties in this case and I'm not angry at this mother. But for the good of the service I don't think the Army wants to let her get off with no penalty whatsoever -- that would just send a bad message to others. Something like a general discharge might be a good way to get this resolved and out of the news.

[Razwan]

You know, some people just cant win for anything around here, no matter what

Military as an alternate to the welfare system??? You have got to be kidding..

You have any idea what kind of hours we work, just in garrison? (hint..think more than 60..no OT)

I have known plenty of people who have stayed in, and plenty who have left...the "benefits" are rapidly declining, as people such as yourself should be more than happy to know..The PX is nothing more than a clearing house for designer clothes which few buy, and end up on the clearance rack in a few months. They have a health care system which makes the real welfare one look like Blue Cross, the commissary is a bargain for dry cereal, but almost everything else is cheaper, and better quality in the civilian market (yes, you have to join the shopper club to realize the savings). I live in an 800 sq foot quarters with my 3 boys...E-7, 14 yrs of service, courtesy of the military welfare system. People who have next to no experience in my job field are hired at twice my salary as civilian contractors. I could go on, but hopefully you get my point.

Before you open you big mouth again, especially on Veteran's Day, think about what you are saying. The American public gets a pretty good deal, at least in terms of manpower. This Veteran's Day brought(partially) to you by a Bronze Star winning, terrorist-attack preventing (opening bullet from NCOER reads "uncovered and prevented 6 planned terrorist attacks through his efforts") Veteran (Afghanistan...BTW, missed that Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Years, too (2001) because of deployment-bet you were enjoying it with your family)

I resent your implications and that you benefit from all I sacrifice

[Razwan]

So...no dual military families? What about single parents? should they be allowed to serve?