I decided to be honest on the MFO Facebook page about what happened to me

[LiberalLoner]

A couple of guys very quickly reposted their photos to keep it from being on top of the feed. No comments, no likes. Exactly what I expected. My heart is still pounding. Can't believe how scary it was to tell the truth of the rape. I'm glad I did it though. Maybe more females who served there will come forward too.

[Squinch]

1. That was amazingly brave of you.

[LiberalLoner]

2. Thank you. Used my real name too.

[Squinch]

3. I don't think I would ever have that kind of courage.

I would be angry about the fact that it got no response though. How are you feeling about that?

I think you are probably right. It will take a few days, but I bet others will join you in this.

Even if they don't, there is someone or there are a number of someones out there who are very very grateful to you for voicing their experience.

[LiberalLoner]

6. Actually I'm fighting shame. I was a bad girl and told the truth

So I am battling fear and shame. I know what I did was right but the early, intensive training I got as a child remains...

[Squinch]

8. I haven't had your experience, but I understand that reaction.

I wish I had some method I could suggest that would help that go away.

From the outside looking in, though, I am in awe of your courage, your valour and your insistence on the truth.

Insisting on the truth is always hard the first day, and it always gets easier from there till it gives you joy. Hiding the truth is always easy the first day, and gets harder till it kills you.

Please take some time to be quiet today, and please try and feel the pride you should be feeling about what you did.

[LiberalLoner]

9. Thank you, I will.

[Squinch]

11. .

[Mojorabbit]

14. What a brave thing you have done!

I am in awe of your courage.

[CrispyQ]

17. What a fantastic comment:

"Insisting on the truth is always hard the first day, and it always gets easier from there till it gives you joy. Hiding the truth is always easy the first day, and gets harder till it kills you."

[Squinch]

19. I only realized it as I was writing it. But it's a central lesson of my life.

I'm writing a novel, and I just realized that that is the central theme of it. I better put that quote in there somewhere.

[LiberalLoner]

25. +1

[idwiyo]

13. No, you were NEVER a bad girl. I wish I can get my hands on whoever told you that.

There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. You did exactly the right thing.

[idwiyo]

4. Hugs. That was a very brave thing to do. Thank you.

[LiberalLoner]

7. Thank you. I also broke the military training that says dont talk about the bad stuff...

[idwiyo]

12. Fuck them and their training. You did what is RIGHT. That's what your training should have been.

By coming forward You WILL encourage others to do the same. What you did helps others to realise there is NOTHING to be ashamed about and it helps to send a message that they can't just pretend its not a problem and try to keep it quiet. It WILL help others. It will.

You did a damn great and brave thing. You MUST BE proud of yourself. I am sure as hell am proud of you.

Lots and lots of hugs from me.

[LiberalLoner]

15. Thank you so much!

[idwiyo]

5. K&R

[Helen Reddy]

10. We admire you LL.

Wish I had special powers to erase all the horrible things you have endured.

[LiberalLoner]

16. Thank you all so very much! I am speechless at how much support I've gotten here! Thank you! I

got a couple of replies on the MFO page. One was from a female soldier who was there ten years after me, saying she was sorry that happened to me.

Another was from a male soldier who is or was a First Sergeant (very important leadership position in Army units, maybe the most important leadership position, really) saying that there are still some coed facilities but now there are separate male and female bathrooms and showers, which is an improvement, and there are still some incidents, one even this year, but that things generally are better. I know that he meant to reassure me but I'm not reassured, I think it's still a bad situation to have, and I think the military in general has a ways to go to combat rape. But maybe my post will make commanders more aware of the problem. I'm hoping anyway.

I'm glad I didn't get any cruel replies. I was so scared to click on the comments I received, and I was so relieved when I saw they weren't mean in spirit but helpful instead.

You guys are awesome. Thank you all so much for supporting me in this and for just being so wonderful in general.

[CrispyQ]

18. There will be a lot of people who won't comment,

but are grateful for your post. That took courage, LL, especially using your real name. Like Squinch above said:

Insisting on the truth is always hard the first day, and it always gets easier from there till it gives you joy. Hiding the truth is always easy the first day, and gets harder till it kills you.

I love this comment! It is so true! And I'll bet you find that it is, too.

Peace.

[LiberalLoner]

22. Thank you!

[MadrasT]

20. What is the "MFO Facebook page"?

(I will always support speaking out and telling the truth about rape.)

[LiberalLoner]

21. Oh, it's a Facebook page for those of us who are or have ever been,

Stationed in the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, Egypt.

It is a very isolated post with the men vastly outnumbering females. And most are Infantry, which has a culture of using prostitutes in Korea and other places. So they are conditioned to think of females that way when in what they call "hardship tours" - those where families are not allowed.

Ps I decided to post it there because units constantly rotate in and out. Figured it was the best way to do the most good.

[Little Star]

23. You are very brave. I am in awe.....

I'm sorry that all that happened to you.

[LiberalLoner]

24. Thank you! But I think my experiences are the norm for women, not

Anything unusual.