Let the Vets Speak!!!

Most Vietnam Vets do not support John Kerry's candidacy, but you would not know it from the news coverage. Vietnam veterans who object to Kerry, such as the Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry (VVAJK), and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, have been muzzled by the mainstream media. The minimal coverage they have received writes them off as right-wing activists, but that is simply not the case -- as the VVAJK has made clear that a significant portion of veterans opposed to Kerry are Democrats who would have voted Democrat if Kerry wasn't the nominee. Even a major upcoming bestseller -- Unfit for Command -- a group of bona fide Vets, has received almost no coverage, unlike the much-touted books of certifiable nutcases and liars like Joe Wilson and Richard Clarke, who wrote Bush-bashing tomes.

The New York Post, a popular New York paper, is a very "fair and balanced" outlet -- and often makes sport of ripping into bias at the New York Times and other mainstream media outlets. The New York Post, though, can only report on "spiked" or ignored stories when it receives leads -- otherwise, they may very well not be alerted to the shenanigans that are going on. So, the first step in correcting this injustice is to alert the Post. Further, enough people have to contact them such that we break through the "noise" of the thousands of news tips they receive on a daily basis. You may contact them here:

I've learned that if enough people contact them, they do follow the story (e.g., when we barraged them with phone calls and emails about Peter Paul's release from Brazilian prison).

Second, the Public Editor at the New York Times, Daniel Okrent, happens to be a nice guy (though a flaming Dem) who does actually respond (in the paper itself) to criticisms of NYT news coverage. While his response is not always favorable, it does often "make news" -- i.e., get reported by the rest of the press. If enough of us make a stink, there is a good chance he will comment about it in the NY Times. Favorable or unfavorable, it would give the Vets more visibility than they currently have. Please contact him as well (but be nice, because he is generally responsive):

If we all take a few moments to do these two things, that should get the ball rolling and result in a positive step in the right direction.

Soldiers family attacked by CPS while dad was stationed in Iraq stating "father abandoned child"

Documentation Available

My name is Cheyenne Griffee.

I am writing this letter in hopes of exposing a very corrupt and bias family court system in Roswell New Mexico.

In December 2000 I got a divorce due to physical and emotional abuse in the relationship. I later remarried a man in the military in February of 2001. I had a daughter from a previous relationship which was proven by court ordered paternity test not to be my ex husband's.

I had one child with my ex husband that was also proved by a court ordered paternity test. Ten months after her birth he began to harass me with phone calls, letters, and by petitioning the courts over 17 times in 18 months for various reasons including change of custody, contempt motions, and asking for more visitation (even though he seldom met the visitation that was originally set).

He did this purposely around holidays or important dates to my family requiring me to drive round trip over 20 hours between Ft Hood, Tx and Roswell, NM each time costing me thousand's of dollars in travel alone and putting a substantial strain on my personal life. It also made it impossible for me to maintain employment of any kind and caused me to be fired twice and requiring me to quit my job on several other occasions.

He wrote the presiding judge three separate letters each being about 10 pages long complaining about how unfair it was that he did not have custody. He never mentioned in them the fact that he had nothing to do with the children for 17 months and paid no child support of any kind.

I became pregnant with my current husband's child in January of 2003 and he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April of the same year.

As soon as word of this reached Roswell the real Family Court nightmare began. They appointed a guardian ad litem in May in the "best interest" of the children. My husband was wounded in an ambush in Iraq on June 15 causing even more stress here.

On July 21 the courts awarded custody of my two children to my ex husband citing that they were in an "unstable home" (without ever making a home visit of any kind) and that I had "alienated" my children from him (when in actuality he had alienated himself).

I would like to state that at no time was the stability of our home or the care of the children ever questioned in Texas. They were seen regularly by their pediatrician, the WIC office, military officials at my husband's work, and by family friends.

At NO time was their care or well being questioned. In our home they had military health care, steady income, military housing, reliable transportation, a fenced yard to play in, play friends, and at least one parent at home with them.

The courts felt this was unstable and elected to put the children in a home that was too small, and gave custody to a man with unsteady employment histories, who moved often, had an unreliable vehicle (at one point depending on a bicycle to get to work), and who depended on a vast network of "strangers" to care for my children. He is supporting my children so well that he continually uses my current husband's health insurance for the kid's medical needs (making it difficult for my husband to be treated for wounds received in Iraq) and is on welfare.

The constant court harassment, required traveling, and the court's decision put considerable strain on my pregnancy that was already considered high risk and eventually put me in premature labor 16 days after losing custody.

Immediately following the birth of my baby girl there were false allegations of drug use on my part. I voluntarily took a urinalysis test to prove otherwise. They also notified my husband in Iraq that his daughter had been taken away because I was on drugs. This put considerably more stress on him in a hostile country.

On October 21, exactly three months after loosing custody of my oldest two, I was baited to the Roswell Police Station by my ex husband, a detective, and Roswell CYFD where they then took custody of my infant. They gave me 2 minutes to say good bye and took her from me. Their claim was that I was neglecting my infant daughter because she was late getting synogis injections (which was due to extenuating circumstances).

They even went as far as taking my husband, fighting for his country in Iraq, to court on allegations of neglect and telling my husband that I lost custody because I was having an affair which was a total lie. This again put added strain on our marriage and quite possibly helped result in him getting wounded again on November 11th.

While she was in states custody, she was over a month late for her 4 month check up and shots, put in a Spanish only speaking foster home (my husband and I are Caucasian and don't speak Spanish), and was in a car accident but didn't receive medical attention until 22 hours after it happened.

I lost visitation rights to my infant due to the allegations of an affair and one week later lost all rights to my oldest two daughters. Luckily and coincidently enough, my infant was returned to me on February 19th 2004 after 4 months of foster care just 3 days before my husband returned from Iraq because all allegations were found to be false.

I still have no rights to my oldest two.

The loss of my children and visitation rights has caused tremendous stress and depression in my daily life. It has put substantial strain on my marriage. It has also disrupted parent-infant bonding time, sibling relationships, and parent-child relationships. I feel that as the birth mother of my children I have been wrongfully stripped of providing for them and watching them grow. The guardian ad litem purposely abused her legal authority by ignoring what was in the best interests of my children. I have been left physically, mentally, and financially drained and have the feeling I have no where else to turn. I feel violated by the family court system and am hesitant and unable to seek legal help, but need help any way possible. I thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Cheyenne Griffee

51313-1 Tonkawa Ct.

Fort Hood, Texas 76544

(254)-466-5816

cheyennegriffee@yahoo.com

To Whom it may concern,

I am Cheyenne Griffee's husband and am writing this to bring to light how the New Mexico CYFD and Family Courts violated my rights and attempted to rip apart my family while I was serving in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I.

I will start with giving you a brief background of myself. I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. I have served my country for the past 8 years and love very much what I thought this country stood for.

I have been stationed in Texas for the past three years and have NEVER been a resident of New Mexico. I am a law abiding citizen and a caring father. Everything I do is for my children. I put my life on the line in defense of them and them alone.

While serving in Iraq my Bradley section executed over 150 combat missions, detained more than 50 enemy personnel, and seized over 1,000 weapons. I was and am responsible for the health and welfare o f 7 soldiers and their families and over $1,600,000.00 worth of equipment. I was awarded 2 Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat and the Bronze Star Service Medal. The citations read as follows:

Purple Heart for June 15, 2003: SSG Griffee was wounded while participating in Combat Operations to Liberate Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSG Griffee and his crew, while conducting operations as part of a night raid mission on a paramilitary complex, 15 Jun 03, came under direct fire from three enemy rocket propelled grenades (RPG's) with two striking his vehicle at Grid MC****** in the Al Taji area of operation. Upon initial contact from the enemy ambush, SSG Griffee received multiple lacerations across his face from shrapnel and temporary loss of hearing due to the attack. Despite his injuries, SSG Griffee and his crew identified and engaged four enemy dismounts, striking two with their 7.62 coaxial machine gun, and continued the mission despite his injuries suffered.

Purple Heart for November 11, 2003: SSG Griffee was wounded while participating in combat operations to liberate Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSG Griffee and his crew, while conducting an armed reconnaissance patrol in support of Operation Ivy Typhoon II, 11 Nov 03, were attacked with an IED at Grid MC

. Upon contact from 1-2 155MM rounds which were detonated by use of an UPS battery pack located 250-300 meters from the attack, SSG Griffee received a minor concussion and lacerations to his knee. Despite his injuries he made every effort to rescue his driver from the flames that erupted from the engine compartment. SSG Griffee was forced to evacuate himself and his gunner from the track as rounds began to explode within it.

Bronze Star Service Medal (summarized): Provided vital leadership to his crew and assisted forces of the 3rd Infantry Division in the capture of the former Secretary of Iraqi Intelligence, Fadil Salfi Al-Azawi, one of the "Top 100 Most Wanted Iraqis" during a house raid on 4 May 03. SSG Griffee's section served as the Quick Reactionary Force for Al Taji Airfield, Iraq. His team responded immediately to all enemy contact inside or outside of the Task Force's perimeter. On numerous occasions his team was quickly dispatched to stop looting, and sales of weapons in the local community which resulted in 26 personal being arrested and 27 Ak-47 assault rifles being confiscated. As the Battery Unit Movement NCO his efforts ultimately enabled the battery to execute a flawless deployment of 36 vehicles, 6 trailers, and 6 Quadcons by rail, sea, and air to the Central Command Area of Operations. SSG Griffee is a leader by example who continually ea rns the respect of the soldiers by his actions and not just his words. A consummate leader, warrior, and trainer, SSG Griffee's organizational skills, mature sense of judgement and warfighting ability clearly mark him as one of a very few noncommissioned officers who can manage complex, broad, and critical problems in any situation.

Now, these are documented citations about my actions in Iraq. While I was there fighting I received court papers petitioning to have my rights to my newborn daughter revoked stating that I neglected her and did not provide for her medical needs.

CYFD also showed my mother paperwork stating "father abandoned child". When questioned about this they told my mother they listed that reason because there was no block on their form for "Father at War". The court papers were delivered to me days before the hearing was to take place. The only information I could get on the case was relayed from CYFD through my mother to me.

Ginger Bowman told us that my wife was having an affair, my daughter was deaf, blind, and had cerebral palsy all of which was NOT true. My mother went to visit my daughter and was told by the social worker Sherry Rosa, when asked, that no in-home visits to the foster mother were conducted in the first 6 weeks of he r being in State custody.

I need to add that I was in the desert and had limited access to internet or phone usage. When these luxuries were available, my access to them depended on mission temp, weather, and long lines of other soldiers waiting to use them also.

I emailed Sherry Rosa several times trying to get information about my daughter but the response was that I needed to contact my court appointed lawyer and she continually instructed me that I needed to make "phone appearances" for court hearings. I repeatedly explained my communication situation to her but it always fell on deaf ears.

Mysteriously, my infant daughter was returned to my wife mere days before my return to the United States and I have never received word one rescinding the false allegations aimed at us. In fact, if you look at the papers awarding custody back to my wife, I am not listed as getting custody back.

I would also like to add that I was the sole provider for Ch eyenne's other two children for two years. They lived with me in Texas for those years and were cared for by my wife and I and utilized the benefits my career provided for them. As soon as I deployed to Iraq the New Mexico court "system" attacked my family and tore us apart.

I write this letter out of frustration. Yes, I was wounded twice in Iraq by enemy action. However, neither of those attacks were as painful or left scars as deep as the one that came from my own country.

I never could have imagined that while I was overseas fighting America's war on Terrorism I would be attacked by domestic terrorists that hide behind the system I am sworn to uphold.

I love our children very much and would do anything for our babies. This is why I am in the profession that I am in. My hopes after this whole ordeal is to return her two children to our family, prevent further attacks on my family, and to spare other mothers and fathers the pain of these evil people abusing their authority.

Thank you for your time in this matter.
Respectfully,
Dennis C. Griffee Jr
SSG USA

ruffneck226@yahoo.com

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