Soldier Arrested, Sons Held Overnight

We need help.

My cousin was arrested two nights ago. I diaried about his back-door draft a few months ago. We knew this day would come and we need more awarness of this.

My cousin has been staying with his two divorced parents, back and forth. I assume the MP MP/County Sheriff surveiled both houses. Two nights ago while staying with his Mother(my Aunt) and Step-dad, the MP County Sheriff showed up a 1AM. A few hours after his parents had left for work. He was home alone with his two sons, age 6 and 8. They were held in child protective services for a night. I can not imagine how frightened they were.

My Uncle(his father) picked the children up in the morning yesterday and has been trying to get his ducks in a line that day. Franticly, calling their military lawyer, getting media contacts, scouring email contacts. I was contacted late last night with his plea, to send this into the blogosphere. He has several contacts and wants more, Cindy Sheehan, OpTruth, Veterans for peace, etc.

::Continued below::

Unfortunately, my cousin has about until tonight before he is transferred from a county jail in Sonoma County, CA to what he believes will be Bremerton. We have been in contact with him via collect calls. He fears that once he gets into the military jail system, his contact with the outside will be very diminished and we have no idea for how long.

I will be emailing Paul Rieckhoff of Optruth, the link to this diary. My Uncle had been in contact with him in May. Please join us in emailing him too. Our biggest concern is that he will get buried in the Military's system with no contact available.

[Update: Upon completing this diary I called my Uncle for the latest news. He says the story was on Kron4 News last night.]

[Update 2: I redacted an email from my cousin from an earlier version, here in his own words is his military record, editted by me.

Here is a little more history and information for you. I served as an active duty naval sailor for 12 1/2 years. Upon completion of my service, I enlisted in the active naval reserves. I have been there for only 4 months and have only been separated from active duty for 5 months.

[...]

Military life was destroying my spouse and my marriage. She started to have mental and drug problems due to her isolation. Over the last few years she has accrued a documented history of depression, being clinically diagnosed manic depressant this last year. I have two children who depend on their mother when I am gone and I am concerned for their welfare at times when I am away.

[...]

The navy used it's best scare tactics in attempt to make me stay longer and the last few months of active duty were excruciating as I was constantly questioned about why I was leaving and how I was wasting my life away as a result. The navy also knows that I am graduating with a BA in Criminal Justice and that I am a federally employed Radiological Controls Technician with the department of the navy.

I voluntarily served as a nuclear propulsion chemist for the navy for over 12 years, during which I did volunteer to serve as a member of the Bangor Submarine Base, WA auxiliary security force after September 11th 2001 in order to defend my country against invasion. Now, I have volunteered as a naval instructor at a training unit in the naval reserves. I am an engineer and a ship sailor.

[...]

I received my activation orders on Friday, May 20th 2005. Consequently, I was the only person in my unit recalled for duty at this time, and I am also the newest person in the unit of only being an affiliate of four months. My departure date is July 11th 2005 for training in Norfolk, Virginia. Then my final destination is Naval Reserve Expeditionary Logistics Support Force Forward in Iraq, to arrive about August 2005 for a duration of 365 days minimum NTE 2 years. No one will tell me exactly what this unit does or where about it is located.

[...]

My orders even state "full seabag not required. Authorized to deploy with operational seabag which includes the desert comouflage utility uniform (DCCU)."

Update 3: I called my uncle again. He says that he spoke with my cousin again breifly and the transfer may not happen tonight. Also, he says that the Kron4 News person had something to say to my cousin's mom after an interview. The reporter stated she knows some folks at the Navy. And they either a) don't talk or b) do. And she related that they talked and this case may come to him [my cousin] just being transferred to Alameda (sp?) and dishonorably discharged. I asked about the children during the ordeal. They were very upset but well taken care of. They went to a house of a child protection service employee. The youngest one drew a drawing of Daddy going to jail.