Blue Star Chronicles

Daniel Nichols was just 21-years-old when we were attacked on September 11, 2001. Nichols responded to the attack as so many young men did and joined the U.S. Army. Homeless now, and with a family living in a campground. Michigan’s Department of Human Services has instigated a custody battle after a Michigan campground accident. See photos, a video and read more below.

Daniel Nichols Children
Mason Nichols and Jasmine Nichols

Daniel Nichols of Muskegon, Michigan, joined the US Army out of a sense of patriotism shortly after 9/11. He performed his duties honorably in Iraq and was eventually discharged. He is married to Ardis Nichols and the couple have two children, Mason, 5-years-old and Jasmine, 2-years-old. Unable to find long lasting employment in Michigan, the Nichols family became homeless.

The VA helped with shelter for 3 months, and relatives have alternated trying to keep the family together and out of a homeless shelter. A week ago, the Nichols decided they would camp for awhile at Hoffmaster State park in Muskegon. It’s only $18.00 a night and the weather had finally turned decent. To make things worse Ardis Nichols had lost her job just over a week ago. (Remember … we are talking Michigan here). While Mrs. Nichols and the children were sleeping snuggly and warm in their tent, Mr. Nichols felt chilly and climbed in his SUV around 6 am to warm up. He fell asleep, and somehow or other the gears shifted, causing the SUV to roll backward into the tent. Mason and his Mom were injured and little Mason’s injuries are serious, although non life threatening. He was flown by Aeromed to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Today it was announced that the Department of Human Services wants to take custody of this Veteran’s children…

The DHS said the campground is no place to raise children.

So now having your children at a campground for a week is “raising them there”? They’d be better off in a homeless shelter with drunks and addicts and total strangers?

There have been no allegations of drug or alcohol abuse, no one has suggested neglect, child abuse or child endangerment. The man had a bona fide accident and because he is a homeless Iraq War vet, Michigan wants custody of his children. DHS wants to remove these 2 babies from loving parents and give them to strangers that will be paid handsomely for ‘babysitting’, versus trying to help a man willing to sacrifice his life for his country a hand up.

Nichols has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is being treated by doctors at the Veterans Affairs clinic in Muskegon. Doctors also suspect he suffers from a mild to moderate case of Traumatic Brain Injury — caused from an explosion while he was driving and the effects of being under constant mortar attack.

Three weeks into combat, Nichols’ commanding officer and four other soldiers were killed after being ambushed by insurgents. Nichols was “blown” off the roof of a two-story building while on sniper watch in Baghdad. For seven months, Nichols fought in Iraq, driving a Humvee through dangerous territory, never sure when or where he’d be under attack.

“Everybody I knew over there was blown up or shot,” he says

Personally, I think for this man, this hero Daniel Nichols, facing the loss of his children is akin to Michigan’s liberal government stabbing him in the back. I’m fairly certain he would prefer an actual knife than face the loss of his babies. How can we stand by and let this happen?

If you read through the comments on the forum at Wood TV, you can feel the outrage at this injustice and see how folks are trying to help, yet we all know what happens when Government thinks they know best.

Anyone know where the ACLU hides during times like this? Or is it ok to violate this man’s rights because he served in Iraq, and we all know that’s no longer politically correct ….

Your thoughts?

You can watch a video below about Daniel Nichols, the Iraq War vet who is in a custody battle after a Michigan campground accident.