Army Mom: 'My Children Have Always Been First'

Wednesday, November 5, 2003

(10:28 PM ET) (03:28 GMT)

The Cable News Network

O'BRIEN: They have released a statement and I want to read it to you for just a moment.

"The Army always tries to do the right thing. In this situation, the appropriate chain of command needs to make a decision. The Army hopes for a solution that is amenable to all parties. Specialist Holcomb does have a commitment to her children, but she has a commitment to the Army, as well."

And that comes from Steve Stover, who is an Army spokesman. What do you think when you hear a comment like that?

HOLCOMB: Well, I understand that they're speaking for all soldiers in the Army and generally that is the way it goes and generally the Army does maintain that. They do allow soldiers some mobility in being able to be a parent as well as a soldier. However, my situation within my command, I'm not getting that from my command. And it pains me.

CNN
Simone Holcomb has put her Army career in jeopardy to provide care for her husband's children in a custody dispute. A Colorado court has ruled that either Holcomb or her husband Vaughn must remain in the United States in order for the Holcombs to retain full custody of Vaughn's two children from a previous marriage.

The Army has ordered Simone and Vaughn Holcomb to report for duty in Iraq. Spc. 4 Simone Holcomb has chosen to defy those orders to remain at home.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien discussed the choice between duty to country and duty to family with Holcomb.

O'BRIEN: You're clearly between a rock and a hard place in this. And I want to give a little more information about what's going on here. You've been married to your husband Vaughn for three years?

HOLCOMB: Yes.

O'BRIEN: And he has two children previously in another marriage. His former wife is now filing for custody. Vaughn's gone off to Iraq already. What did the judge tell you?

HOLCOMB: Well, at that time when I went to court, I had let the judge know that me and my husband were both home on emergency leave to help deal with this situation. And it was decided amongst many people that it is best for those children to reside in our home for the stability. And to maintain that, one of us needed to be here, because Colorado law states that if me and my husband are both not in this country, those two children do go back with their biological mother. And that would be detrimental for them.
(More: CNN.com / U.S.)

2003 © Cable News Network LP, LLLP.

So far, Mom’s doing everything right. She has council and, unlike those you don’t see much media play on, did not skip the country. I wish her luck in her coming trials, legal and otherwise.

Dan