Dear Margo: My Daughter was raped by her command in Iraq two years ago

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You can find this under the "Entertainment" section on Yahoo. :puke:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/dear_margo/20070727/en_dm/margo_howard20070727;_ylt=ApWBCgovC3pAV4DszFsdm.RxFb8C

A Psychic Injury in Iraq
Fri Jul 27, 2:00 AM ET

DEAR MARGO: My daughter was sexually assaulted by a member of her command in Iraq two years ago. She received a "less than honorable" discharge due to reporting a rape. She'd never had disciplinary problems and was always looked on as a leader. Prior to the military she was happy, motivated and looking forward to life. She was captain of her school's soccer and volleyball teams, a straight-A student, and scored a 1540 on her SATs. She turned down Ivy League schools to be able to follow her grandfather, father and brothers in serving our country.

She was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). She is depressed and sleeps 18 hours a day. She's drinking heavily and afraid to go out for fear of being raped. She does not have any friends because she feels "it's safest not to trust anyone."

We've tried to help her find a job, but she's afraid of working with men. Our daughter is filled with anger that her rapist is still in the Army and able to continue with his career. She fought a hard battle with the military police to investigate this man, but they refused.

She goes to counseling twice a week, is on six medications and has been a sporadic inpatient in the psych ward. We've been trying everything but nothing is working. Any advice?

--- DESPERATE ARMY MOM IN FLORIDA

DEAR DES: What an awful and heartbreaking story, and not all that unusual, sad to say. I suggest you go to your congressman, then your local newspaper, to drum up interest . . . and perhaps bring this skunk to justice. The spotlight of public attention has been known to reverse military iniquities such as this.

Regarding your daughter's mental health, a good place to start would be a support group for rape victims, perhaps adding in AA. You or your husband could take her and pick her up so she would feel safe. The support of others will convince her that she need not sacrifice the rest of her life to the unfairness of what happened, and also that she is a good person who got a raw deal.

I do think reopening the issue with your congressman -- and the press -- will give her some feeling of empowerment. Harnessing anger can be constructive.

--- MARGO, RESTORATIVELY

Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers' daughter. All letters must be sent via e-mail

You can write to Margo here: http://www.creators.com/write/lifestylefeatures/dear-margo.html

Perhaps with pressure, Margo will write to Army Mom and we can help to find this victim and get her some help and also get the rapist discharged and charged with the crime?

I am so maddened/shocked/appalled at what the current Administration has done to our Volunteer Army!!

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1. 1540 on her SATs....

What a fucking waste...that she bought into the hype that soldiers are being fed. It's so sad that kids now are being fed the nonsense of "tradition and valor and honor" when all they are doing is protecting oil and watching infrastructure be destroyed by warring factions.

This girl really needs a caring congressperson to take on her case and see this shit brought to light. That other soldier needs to have his life destroyed as he destroyed hers.

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2. How disgusting is it that you have to contact Congress Critters involved

AND the useless Fourth Estate to get some help? And you'll not get much there.

The telling part is Margo's comment that it's "not all that unusual". Well it should be!

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3. .

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4. Going Public with Bushies in Power would hurt her more...I wish I didn't have to say this...

but she is in some serious melt down. Bushies go after and destroy folks who get in their way. Any media outlet that would approach her would USE her and make her feel worse. We don't have strong women's advocacy groups these days like we did in 70's and early 80's who could support her and fight for her. NOW is but a shadow of itself.

This is very upsetting and I'm sure that the Mother of this girl is beyond distress having to see her daughter's pain every day and wondering if she's going to make it. It's just awful...what is going on...with this war for Bush/Cheney Folly.....:-(

Writing the Congressperson at least might be a way of tracking down the person who raped her...if it can be kept quiet. Sometimes Congresscritters can move mountains if they are powerful on a Commmittee, though.