A midstate family is trying to clear an Adams County woman of federal charges of desertion that they contend is an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Twenty-one year old Angela Myers is in a federal lockup at Fort Knox, Kentucky where she will face a hearing over the next couple of days.

James Myers said that in 2006, his wife walked off the base at Fort Lee, Virginia because her leg was bothering her and she couldn't participate in drills. She came back home to her mom's house in Adams County. Myers convinced his wife to turn herself in to the nearest Army Reserve unit in Gettysburg.

"They called Fort and they made phone calls to other places and they explained to her that she was fine," said James Myers. "It shows that you've been discharged for failing to adapt to a military environment."

And there were several instances over the past several months where the record could have popped up but didn't, like in employment background checks. But a Fort Knox spokesman said their records show that Myers was never discharged.

James Myers says his 6-month-old daughter misses her mother and has trouble falling asleep at night without her. Myers says he hasn't been allowed to talk to his wife since she was flown down to Fort Knox.

The family has hired a lawyer but they still don't know how or when the situation will be resolved.

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