How in the world could one justify this situation:

She had raised her daughter for six years following the divorce, handled the shuttling to soccer practice and cheerleading, made sure schoolwork was done. Hardly a day went by when the two weren’t together. Then Lt. Eva Crouch was mobilized with the Kentucky National Guard, and Sara went to stay with Dad.

A year and a half later, her assignment up, Crouch pulled into her driveway with one thing in mind - bringing home the little girl who shared her smile and blue eyes. She dialed her ex and said she’d be there the next day to pick Sara up, but his response sent her reeling.

“Not without a court order you won’t.”

Divorce, separation and child custody battles are not unique to the US military. However, Federal law which protects those in harms way evidently offers no guarantee that a deployed single parent with custodial rights will maintain that status upon their return.

A federal law called the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is meant to protect them by staying civil court actions and administrative proceedings during military activation. They can’t be evicted. Creditors can’t seize their property. Civilian health benefits, if suspended during deployment, must be reinstated.

And yet service members’ children can be - and are being - taken from them after they are deployed.

Individual states have begun to address this issue and are initiating laws to insure the rights of these parents. Perhaps the federal government should do the same..for the sake of those fighting for our country and the welfare of their children.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
here.