
Quoting
Clair Bonner
For purposes of this response, I will assume that you were NOT "legally" separated from your spouse. Since you are married, and not "legally" separated, and since this is not retirement or pension money, all income derived, as well as debts incurred, during the marriage are divisible pursuant to California Community Property laws. This money is not your "separate property."
That being said, California also recognizes that a division may be determined due to the reason for your "involuntary separation." Again, for purposes of this response, I will assume you did something "purposeful" that caused the military to, for lack of a better phrase, "asked you nicely to leave and never darken their door again." For example, all things being equal, if everything was fine and went according to plan, you were to have received "separation pay" of $20,000 after 4 years of service, but due to the reason for your "involuntary separation" you only received $10,000, then yes, his attorney may, in fact, be correct that he gets the entire $10,000 due to your purposeful acts causing the "reduction of pay" which, in turn, harmed the marital estate.
We would need more specific facts about all of these matters in order to give you a specific answer.