When momma comes marching home again harrah harrah! :•(
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Mother Of 2 Called Back To Army; Army Denied Donna Cote's Request For Exemption
NBC
A Warwick mother of two who thought that her military career was long behind her has gotten the surprise of her life -- she's being recalled to active duty.
Donna Cote, of Warwick, was honorably discharged from the Army in 1999. She has had two children since then, so she was very surprised when she got a letter telling her to report to active duty.
"I was shocked," said Cote. "I thought that something, maybe they had the wrong person. I couldn’t imagine why, after so long, that they would be recalling me to go back."
Cote first joined the army in 1997 for a three-year enlistment. She was then married to her first husband, who was also a military man; she became pregnant two years into her duty. Because she had no family care plan and no one to take care of her child, the Army granted her an honorable discharge. But as part of that, she was subject to recall duty through June 2005.
Now, more than five years and another child later, the Army wants her back for an 18-month tour of duty in Iraq.
Cote first got a letter to report in September, but she was able to put it off until now, to try to get an exemption because she has no one to care for her children.
"My children, who's going to care for them?" said Cote. "I'm a stay-at-home mom, my husband works 80 to 85 hours a week and I don't have any family here in Rhode Island that can care for my kids."
Cote's relatives have written letters to the government telling them they're unable to care for Cote’s children. Sen. Jack Reed has also written on her behalf, but the Army just denied her request for an exemption.
Cote said she doesn't know where else to turn. "I have no idea, I really don't know," she said.
Cote is scheduled to report to Fort Jackson, S.C., on March 6.
News Channel 10 contacted the U.S. Army Human Resources Command to discuss the matter and was referred to the chief of Public Affairs, where messages where left, but no calls were returned. |
