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Stop-Loss Puts Military Family’s Plans on Hold
Written by Tim Daly, Reporter

STOCKTON, CA - After eight years in the Army Reserves, Ben Cochran was ready to be finished with military duty. But according to the U.S. Army, he’s not finished after all.

Under an unpopular Army program known as Stop-Loss, Cochran is in training to serve at least another year of duty to happen in Iraq.

"He’s put in his time and done his commitment. It’s time to move on with his life, but he can’t. They’re forcing him to stay in. It’s a draft," said Cochran’s wife Liorah. "He’s put in his eight years. If this was a year ago and the situation came up, he’d go no question, no fuss."

Ben Cochran’s last day in the Army was supposed to be August 31, but he learned recently he’ll leave for Iraq August 3. Cochran is currently in Texas for further training. Ben is a nurse and will be assigned to a prison in Iraq.

What’s most frustrating for the Cochrans is that another reserve with far more time on his contract wasn’t called.

"There’s actually someone in his reserve unit, who does the same job, and he’s not going," said Liorah.

The couple recently bought a home in Stockton and had planned on moving into that house late in the summer after extensive repairs. Those plans are now on hold.

"If he goes, he goes and we deal with it. We live with it and hopefully he comes home safely," said Liorah.


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Created: 6/4/2008 4:00:11 PM Updated: 6/4/2008 6:19:00 PM