Soldier Sent to Gulf Faces Charges for Leaving His Children

A soldier shipped to Saudi Arabia with the 101st Airborne Division has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse for apparently leaving his three children to fend for themselves, police said.

Police identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Faagalo Savaiki, father of two sons, ages 13 and 12, and a daughter, also 12.

Ft. Campbell Public Affairs Officer Bill Harralson said Army officials have been unable to reach Savaiki, who apparently left his unit in Saudi Arabia to see his ailing mother in American Samoa.

He said that when Savaiki is found, he will be directed to return to Ft. Campbell.

Clarksville Police Sgt. Bill Poor said a neighbor reported that Savaiki’s children were apparently unattended on Wednesday.

“They were dirty, and there was no food or hot water in the house. Their father had left them an automatic teller machine card and instructions on how to pay some bills,” Poor said.

The children have been placed in the custody of the state Department of Human Services.

Poor said the parents were divorced about three weeks ago, and the mother moved to Hawaii. He said she has been contacted by state officials but is financially unable to return to care for them.

A single-family care program at Ft. Campbell keeps listings of guardians who are responsible for the care of children of parents deployed. Harralson said Savaiki’s unit had no record of his divorce.