The judges found that the deployment and other changes in Towne's life — including the break-up of her second marriage — had contributed to an unstable home life. Towne says she was devastated.
National Guard member Tanya Towne says that losing custody of her son, Derrell, was "punishment" for serving in Iraq.
Soldier Loses Custody of Child After Iraq Tour
by Brian Mann
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Morning Edition, February 14, 2008
· Advocates for military families say a growing number of soldiers are losing custody of their children, not because they're bad parents but because they've been deployed overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan.
A bill signed by President Bush last month strengthens protections for service members and their families. But legal experts say some military moms and dads are still vulnerable.
'Punishment to the Soldier'
On the outskirts of Albany, N.Y., Tanya Towne coaxes her 4-year-old son Darren to eat.
Towne's other child — her 12-year-old son, Derrell — isn't home. Derrell no longer lives with his mother.
"He's in Virginia, so I hardly get to see him at all," Towne says.
Towne divorced Derrell's father, Richard Diffin, eight years ago. She was granted primary custody and raised Derrell, along with her second son from a different marriage.
But when Towne's National Guard unit was deployed to Iraq in 2004, a family court judge in Montgomery County, N.Y., granted temporary custody to Derrell's father.
The boy went to Virginia, while Towne spent a year guarding convoys near Tikrit.
Just before she returned home, her ex-husband asked for permanent custody of Derrell.
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18966053
Towne served not only her state but the nation as well. She had full custody until she was deployed and then the judge said she was providing an unstable home for her son. WTF! How can this be going on? Does the judge now think service to this nation in the National Guard makes parent suddenly bad parents because they were ordered to deploy and risk their lives? What kind of message is this sending to all who serve?
This is disgusting!
So much is missing from this story. This situation has nothing to do with her military deployment and more to do with other decisions she has made, as well as, the situation she is in in her personal life. The judges have it right in this case. Because this involves a child so much of the original courts decision has been left out. Dig deeper.
ReplyDeleteWhat is best for the child? Is what this is all about, but then again, THAT would make this a non-story. Wouldn't it? Don't spend your time feeling sorry for her. Be happy for the child.
I am not a reporter. The job of "digging" is for them, not me. I provide information and my views on the subjects I carry.
ReplyDeleteNext, how dare you tell me what or who to worry about? You post under anonymous and make slams against this woman who had her child taken away because the judge said serving in the Guard was unstable. By the way, this isn't the only time this has happened to members of the armed forces, National Guards of Reservists. I have no idea who you are or even if you know this woman or not.
You are free to comment but readers of this blog always will question people who make claims while posting under anonymous.