Michigan Family court ruling wounds National Guardsman in the heart

(Column) Gallant Americans are risking life and limb in Iraq to defend home and country. But they never dreamed they might lose their children, too. When Army National Guard Spc. Joe McNeilly of Grand Ledge, Mich., came home after 15 months in Iraq , he found that a family court "referee" had taken away his joint custody of his 10-year-old son and given full custody and control to the boy's mother. . . . Michigan State Rep. Rick Jones has introduced legislation (HB 5100) providing that absences for military service cannot be used against a parent and that a permanent custody arrangement cannot be established while a parent is on active duty. He is hearing from legislators in other states who want to sponsor similar bills.  By:  Phyllis Schlafly, Townhall.com.  http://www.townhall.com/columnists/phyllisschlafly/ps20050905.shtml (Last visited September 6, 2005, REO). Additional information:  California Moving Protections For Military While Congress Lags Behind, August 21, 2005, http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/2005/08/california-moving-protections-for.htm (Last visited September 6, 2005, REO).