I've been debating posting this for a long time, and I will do my best to keep it as relavant as possible.

I met the mother of my son back in 2000. It was a one night stand that turned into a relationship that was comfortable. When she came up pregnant I decided to do the right thing and marry her. I always knew it would end badly.

We were young, and she cheated on me often. Occasionally I would reciprocate in an attempt to make myself feel better. I eventually found myself unemployed with a lack of options and volunteered to serve in Iraq. While there she took up a habit of cheating on me, doing cocaine and wasting my money.

The divorce was one sided, her lawyer pointed to me leaving for the military as me abandoning my family and was told the mother always wins. I was railroaded and lost most custodial rights.

She went to Iraq and military training and I had my son for two years. I think he did well, but she had fulltime custody and got him back when she returned.

When I left for my military schooling, she left to move 12 hours away. I was again told I did not have any shot of stopping her.

I got a call in January, my son was in state custody. He had been taken away because his step father was paddling them with a 2x4 board, leaving bruises and she was beating children with broomsticks, her hands, knives, etc. Also, they were getting paid money to take care of "severely mentally disabled children" because they had them all on dangerous levels of ADHD medicine. As it stands my son is not even ON the average growth charts for his age.

I have spent over $12,000 and at times stood on the edge of financial destruction. I have a lot of hard work repaying my debt but I now have my son. I no longer have to deal with her threatening to never let me see my son again. I never have to worry about his well being and what I can do about it.

Tl:Dr: I got my son from my abusive ex wife.

Bonus question: Should I go after child support? She has no job, anything I get will be pennies compared to what I make. I had to pay to her, but I do not like the concept of it anyway.