SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Army is pursuing criminal charges against a soldier in Georgia who did not deploy to Afghanistan last year because she's a single mom and says she had no family able to care for her infant son.
A spokesman for Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah said Wednesday that Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, a 21-year-old Army cook, has been charged with missing movement, being absent without leave, dereliction of duty and insubordinate conduct.
Hutchinson of Oakland, Calif., skipped her deployment flight Nov. 5. She said her mother — who had agreed to care for her 10-month-old son — was overwhelmed by the task and backed out of the plan.
Hutchinson's attorney says a superior told the soldier her son would have to go into foster care if nobody else could keep him.
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