Comments on: Sexual Assault Permeates U.S. Armed Forces

CBS Evening News: Shocking Report On Frequent Attacks, Low Rate Of Investigation, Prosecution

[greensthings-2009]

1979.
18 years old.
The Army.
Germany, sent out to the field for the first time.
The only woman and 1500 men.
I was the Medic, they were Engineers.
Alone, in the dark being watched, only I didn't know
Vilseck, Germany after two weeks without a shower, we were allowed to go to Tent city for 2 days.
Much Celebrating. Much Drinking. After showers the partying started.
I was invited.
A cute boy
Fun
free drinks
more drinks
Something wrong....
Room spinning
Dizzy
can't walk
being carried
pass out
wake up
can't move
tied up
can't talk
gag in mouth
voices
someone on me
wet between the legs
laughter
another body on me
tears
another body
all night
over and over again
how many?
Don't know
too many
over and over again
thrusting
sweaty
pawing
pain
tearing
more laughter
in and out of conscience
how many?
could be twenty
could be a hundred
all ranks
all sizes
all ages
all *******
all thrusting
all sweating
lots of pain
smell of greasy tent
smell of booze
smell of tobacco
smell of man sweat
smell of *****
smell of sex
all thrusting
all groping
all squeezing
all pawing
only one, who when he saw my tears, stopped in his tracks
But he walked out, and another came in to take his place
over and over again
no help
none in sight
all night long
in and out of reality
in and out of dreams
more body's
more men
more thrusting
how many hours?
finally the sweet release of awareness
awakening
naked
in the showers
bruises and blood everywhere
Pain
oh my God the pain
all consuming pain
my clothing in a pile
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
water is cold
scrub some more
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
scrub
put on uniform
met at door, by commanding Officer
stern words about MY behavior
told if I talked, it would be MY fault
Threatened with prison for "enticing"
handed orders to be transfered
Told to pack my bags
Transportation waiting
Warned again
If you talk, you die
or worse
watching blindly as the trees roll by
curling up inside of me
hiding the pain
hoping the pain will fade
as the bruises do
can't walk, can't sit, can't take a ****
blaming myself
Others have
so why not me?
Guilt
it weighs on a mind
remembering what was said
silence it is my friend
denial
lock the pain away
never talk they said
never talk I did
The pain it became my friend
To this day, it never ends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first time I have EVER written or spoken about that night. The ONLY reason I have after thirty years is, because it is STILL going on! What happened to me, happens to thousands of women in the military ever year!

[amjtlj]

I am a retired Army Veteran. I am a female standing 5?5? weighing 130 lbs. I have been visiting the Millington Naval Base since 1993 without incident. On today, March 27, 2009 I sent into the Naval Base gate as usual and showed the security guard my military id. This security guard name is Tisdale, a male. He told me to put on my seat belt or turn around and come back in the gate. I put on my seatbelt and drove forward. The security guard put up a barricade preventing me from going forward. I stopped my vehicle because I could not go forward because of the barricade. I put my vehicle in park and waited in my car with my seat belt on. Then several police cars came on the scene and
A male named Officer Born got out of the car, drew his gun on me and began to scream at me. A female officer dressed in fatigues was with him. Officer Born kept screaming at me, ?Show me your hands!? I had my military id in my left hand showing him and my right hand was o my steering wheel. I was in shock at this time. Born began to raise his gun at me and I put both my hands out the window. He then opened my driver-side door, release me from the seatbelt and dragged me out of my car. He threw me against the trunk of my car and pressed my chest into my car. I told him that he was hurting me. I told him that I am disabled and he was hurting my back. He then pressed down on my back even harder. He screamed at me to lean against the car, well he was pressing me so far against the trunk of my car I had no more room to lean forward onto the car. He then handcuffed me and told me to shut up. I asked him what I was being arrested for and he said for disorderly conduct. The female officer dressed in fatigues patted me down.

Other officers took my keys and purse and told me they were going to search my car. I did not give them permission to search my car and they had no warrant. They went through my bags, papers, purse; they opened sealed boxes with private papers in them. They tore open a box with my military C-file in it, and looked through my personal and private information. They disheveled everything in my car. I had money in my purse still in the bank envelope; they took my money out of my pure and put it on the passenger seat. I was put in the back of the squad car with Officer Born and the female. I told them that the handcuffs were too tight, that they were hurting my wrist. I told them that my knees were hurting in the back seat of the squad car because the space was so tight that I had no room to extend my injured knee. Officer Born told me to shut up, stop talking. Even as I was talking to the female officer, he kept telling me to shut up. I felt like I was being raped again. Officer Born hurt my neck, back, rib cage, breast and my knee from his excessive force and brutality.

I was taken to a room in a building. I was still in handcuffs and bent over in pain. Officer Born told me to get out the car. I could not get out of the car without help because I was in so much pain from being brutalized. The female officer offered to help me out the squad car. After the female help me out the squad car, Officer Born put his hands around my right arm very tightly, hurting me and took me to a room with a mirror in it. I was in so much pain I felt I would pass out. I knew I was alone with these people so I cooperated fearing what else they would do to me. Officer Born locked the door behind me with me still in handcuffs. An investigator came in and told me they were going to give me a ticket for the seatbelt. I asked for medical attention. I told him Officer Born hurt me. Medics from the fire department at the base came and examined me. They took my blood pressure and said it was elevated, and they took my pulse and said it was high.

Sgt. Pace came in the room and said I would be getting a ticket for the seatbelt. I explained to him that I was wearing a seatbelt when the officers came and got me out of my vehicle. He said he would look at the video and if he sees I had a seatbelt on he would not give me a ticket. He later came back and said the person that operates the video was not in today, that it will be Tuesday before he can look at the video. The investigator came back in the room and he said, ?If you try to take us to court we are going to win.?

I was then driven by another female officer to my car. She asked me what happened; I told her Officer Born put his gun out on me. She said I should report him and gave me his boss name and number.

I am so afraid, because these police officers know where I am staying and they know my car. I am afraid to stay on the Navy base any longer. I plan to check out immediately. I have not stopped crying from being traumatized by these officers. I went to the emergency room for my injuries.

P.S. I was told they have video and audio of this incident.
Terry
[phone]

[kjm123]

My husband was in the marines from 1965-1980. This is nothing new. I heard reports from the women that were in the marines. Nothing has changed. When will it?

[alienn8]

This is sickening. I guess it happens more than I'd like to believe. A friend of mine recently just got raped in the Army. No one is trying to help her. They're ALL calling her a liar... she is in shambles now and being forced to just go home. I won't stand for this. I'm in search to help her and her family find a good lawyer so they can put that Sgt. behind bars! Pathetic how these losers have to resort to such crimes!

[BeverlyPrather]

There are many reasons for the high rate of sexual assault in the military.

Google "military sexual trauma" and you will see numerous banners for JAG lawyers that will GO TO WAR defending the rapist. They go after the woman viciously.

You go on 24-7 satelite video surveillance, they tap your cell phone, They network with your commanding officers and everyone around you.

Investigations go on for months, even years

gettting "evidence" against the woman.

They say "there has to be a trial", but, the woman is often declared to "mentally unstable" to take part in the trial. No trial, no prosecution.
The women is "not credible" as a witness

They get salaries for that, it is their job to defend THE RAPIST.

After being subjected to all of that for NO JUSTICE,
Allowing known rapists to go free

The woman is subjected to more degradation.

VA TREATMENT
The VA gets funding for drugging and hospitalizing women that can't take sexual abuse anymore.

BILLIONS in VA FUNDING for that. BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS.

They routinely drug you. Involuntary committement, without due process, is called "INTERVENTION" . All it takes it the request of a husband or family member.

The VA gets funding for drugging you and keeping you in a rubber room. For complaining of sexual abuse.

All VA "sexual trauma counselors" will tell you the same thing "YOU HAVE TO GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE"

That is their job. They get paid for that.

AND NOTHING ANYONE WILL DO ABOUT A RAPIST other than continue to abuse the woman.

Our military has destroyed other countries for much less.

We will not tolerate that treatment of MUSLIM women, but we actually PAY the salaries of government employees that will abuse, harass, and devastate any woman that has been sexually assaulted.

"Get on with your life" ladies

[ucanjan]

Tell Katie to contact me! I live in her old stomping grounds, Charlottesville, VA, where she attended college and UVA is constructing a Cancer Center that bears her sister's name.

I served in the Women's Army Corps prior to the WAC Colors being retired in 1977. I was at Fort McClellan, AL during that ceremony. I served from 1976 through the unjust end of my career in 2003, 26 years, 6 months, 23 days for pay, and nearly 14 years on active duty, but my career was railroaded. You see, I served as the Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Oficer, trained and hired as Adjunct faculty by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institutes. The military has had stats on this for years. Most of it stuffed along with those of us who would say it out loud and denouce it.

They "KILL THE MESSENGER", I was the messenger from September 1983 through 2003. When soldiers know that their careers and reputations will be called into question, they will be further victimized, WHO WOULD WANT TO TELL?

I served as Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Officer in two state National Guards, The Departments of the U.S. Army and Air Force. I had to hear these cries for help, most of whom refused to allow me to go public with their complaints. However, I know for a fact that anonymous EO Climate profiles documented the statistics, but it's been "stuffed", swept under the carpet, the victims smeared as either as "***** and/or nuts." Neither which is true for most of us even though after day after day of harassment, the psychological warfare often makes some question their sanity and ask how could this be happening to them.

I am a social scientist by education with a BA, MA, Ph.D.(ABD) in counseling psychology. I had the MA when I received my officer commission and completed course written and oral exams on my Ph.D. and am a candidate. So I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday. If they were able to end my career after over 2 decades of above average Officer Evaluations, then they can end any females they wish to. There is s blatant double standard and there's proof out there. The remaider of my life will be proving my stories and those of other women who are serving or who have served with Honor. I was Honorably discharged, 2 just short of being able to retire from active duty and a little over 6 years shy of my mandatory retirement date, March 2009!

I served with Honor, Dignity and I would serve our great nation again and I would once agian put my evaluations, promotions and utimately my career on the line for what is just and right for each and every military member who raises their hand and take an oath, dedication everything, up to and including giving our lives for the country we love so dearly. I am a "Proud woman Veteran,."

[ucanjan]

I servered from October 1976 through May 2003. I was one Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Officer for most of those 26 1/2 years. I was a woman who heard complaints from many of these women. Many women only wanted a listening ear to have their story. In most instances women were further victimized when their comrades, senior leaders did nothing but further victimize the victim. The system rewarded females who kept quiet, which unminds the credibility of those who are vicitims. These women would side with the perpetrators and the "ole boy" network for meager favors or, just to keep their standing.

The system also practices "killing the messenger". Being the EO/EEO Officer and Adjunct Faculty at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, certified instructor in the Prevention of Discriminatory Harassment, I was the "messenger!" Then finally in the end, my career was ended after I was victimized by a supervior, my immediate rating officer. He was promoted during the time I had an active complaint at the National Guard Bureau. He and his associates threatened to end my career. I was continuously harassed, became ill both physically and emotionally, and falsely accused of "substandard performance" during my illness and railroaded off of active duty. My life has been totally devastated. I was unable to get my Veteran's benefits, medical review in 2007 and a small compensation of a little over $1400 a month in 2008. I was discharged, "Honorably" in 2008,

I believe my story to be more the norm and I could have told you these stats. The Army had them but stuffed them. An employer told me that he would only hire me on a probatioary contract because of my near 3 decades in the military, because he didn't trust the military because of all of their cover-ups.

My stories are many and I intend to have them heard. Another former EO Officer and I intend to write a book, but her words were, "If we told the truth, no one would believe us." The stories are horrible, but all are true. Just like this soldier, where is our justice. The stories are ********* and most women, now out, may be willing to tell theirs. I'm hoping to search for these women and make their stories known.

I was silenced and black-listed to potential employers, etc. after over 24 years of "above average Officer Evaluation, my files were papered with erroneous documents. My referred or derrogatory evaluations were completed by the men who harassed me. They were believed even though the retaliation was blatant. I loved the military and I love my country with all of my heart and soul. But no one's daughter, spouse, sister, mother, etc., should have to go through this in our great nation. Again, I was and AM ONLY THE MESSENGER!

[johnenry]

I was stationed in a combat support hospital in Iraq in 2004. As part of standard screening of soldiers coming to the outpatient clinic was a question regarding sexual contact within the previous three weeks. Amazingly, two out of three female soldiers reported consensual sexual contact within that period. While the recent stories about sexual assaults in the military are alarming, it is part of the larger story that needs investigation. If promiscuity in the new military of mixed genders in forward deployed areas is an issue, it needs to be reported. Pregnancy rates of soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan would be a good start.

[AngToo]

I can't believe some of the comments listed here; what a shame that there are so many men that obviously believe sexual assault (as the military calls it) and rape (this is what sexual assualt really is), is okay or is always the woman's fault. Were you people dropped on your heads at some point?

Pure and simple, rape is rape. Think about this word and think about the very act of violence involved in this kind of assault. Rape victims suffer a lifetime, it's not something that goes away with time and honestly, a rapists face never changes for the victim.

What is written in the military and what actually happens to a soldier who commits the violent act of rape are two totally different things. What I have seen is the military wants this issue (rape) to just go away. They don't want to convict these soldiers, and for some crazy reason they think a reprimand will suffice.

As a spouse of a retired CSM and the mother of 4 military service members, I never dreamed my daughter would be raped while in the military, and I sure never dreamed that she would be raped by a soldier she worked with; especially since she served as an MP and in the MPI. The soldier that raped her is also an MP. Unfortunately, this man was not convicted and he returned to his MP job in the same building where my daughter works. Don't tell me she should just move on - she's the vicitm and has continually been re-victimized over and over again during this whole process.

Get it through your heads men, rape is rape. It is not an act of loving friendship. It's a horrific, terrifying, and inexplicable crime against a woman. Don't make light of such a crime, it could be your daughter, your wife, your mother - they are not immune to this because they are civilians; but unfortunately, their chances are greatly increased if they are in the military.

Katie Couric, thank you for taking a look at this issue. I hope you will continue to do so in the future. The only way this problem will continue to be addressed by the military and the only way more convictions will be sought is if this issue stays in the public eye through the media.

[usafsupplytroop1983-1987]

Unfortunatley, this is not a new problem in the military. I served in the United States Air Force from 1983 to 1987. I went in thinking that I was going to serve my country and possibly have a career that I could be proud of. I was wrong. I remember feeling so confident and proud when I graduated from Basic Training. I was assigned to a supply squadron, the material storage and distribution branch, storage and issue section. From the beginning of my tour, it was made clear to me not only from my military leaders, but from the civilian supervisors that female troops where there just to be "boys toys." If you turned down the advances, then suddenly you are called ****.
I cannot go into the story of my assault because it is too painful---even after all of these years. What I do want to point out though, sexual assault, rape, is not a new event in the military....it has been an ongoing problem for a long, long time....not only during times of war, but also during times of peace. I applaud Katie Couric for bring this to the public, but too much, too little, too late.