19-year old Fort Lewis soldier...mom has a tumor in her head and breast cancer.

Police jail soldier for deserting Army

Garcia-Sanchez stayed home to take care of his sick mother

By Kelly Nix
The Salinas Californian

"Army spokeswoman Martha Rudd said soldiers who remain missing less than 30 days are considered to be "absent without leave," or AWOL, while soldiers gone longer, such as Garcia-Sanchez, are considered deserters."

JAG Hunter query: 2,731 reported deserters in the 2003 all-volunteer Army. What's wrong with this picture?