First, The Mustang Major (that’s me) must admit that I knew nothing about this Veterans and Military Women’s organization evidently formed by women for women. Though that is their focus, they also support and depend on the support of us guys who strongly feel women must be viewed and treated with respect and as partners not inferior or playthings. If you are a male who feels otherwise, then this view is useless to you. YOU JUST WILL NEVER GET IT!
Military Sexual Trauma and the Murder of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach
By Susan Avila-Smith, Director of VetWow. Emphasis added by Major Robert L. Hanafin, U.S. Air Force-Retired
11 Jan 2008
Press Release Regarding the Murder of Maria Lauterbach
Vet Women Organizing Women (VetWow)
http://www.vetwow.com/aboutus.htm
It is with heavy hearts that the women and men of www.vetwow.com are compelled, once again, to recognize and publicize the inexplicable and tragic loss of another rape victim. She came forward to testify against her perpetrator. We refuse to put the term, "alleged" in that phrase because it does not do justice to Maria Lauterbach's strength and fortitude to carry on in the face of such adversity.
We are alarmed by the appearance of impropriety on behalf of the Marine Corps. This is yet another (negative) precedent set for sexual trauma victims’ military service wide, and we are concerned. Maria's UA [unauthorized absence] status SHOULD have been alarming to her Marine Corps superiors, because of her late term pregnancy, and especially her status as a victim-witness in a (Marine Corp related) sexual assault.
These circumstances alone should have inspired her command superiors to protect her from unwanted attention and violent assault, (and neither the media nor Congress is pressing the Pentagon for answers?).
Many members of our organization have come forward with accounts that bear striking similarities to this case. Victim character assassination, (the Marine Corps spokesman went on record as saying Corporal Lauterbach wanted out of the Marine Corps, and downplayed the role and responsibility of Marine Corp ‘leadership’) lack of meaningful protection, and the horror of having to live and work in close quarters (in a hostile environment encouraged by the Marine Corps) with one's attacker[s]. These are all-too common occurrences’ in these situations.
We would like to remind the public of what our society loses in this case and every case like it, when the lives of rape victims (deceased or survivors) are ignored or thrown away:
One of our best and brightest (and precious few females in our male dominated Armed Forces)
A patriotA young motherA constituentA future leader A child that never took a breath whose lost potential cannot be calculated. (This is not a pro-life or pro-choice statement, but one morally and ethically that especially every woman should agree on. Being a man, I do not know what it is like to give birth or make a choice not to, but one does not have to be a women to appreciate any life taken with NO CHOICE. Major Hanafin).
A trained professional And, (TRUST) the belief that our military, and our government can be trusted to care for its own, because of their gender.
All THIS IS GONE. Our prayers and hearts go out to Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child, and all those individuals who held her dear.
Call to Action We encourage the public to pressure the military to change its way of handling sexual assault cases. The perpetrator should be punished and the victim protected. Please inform military recruits that they have very little to no support if they are assaulted.
http://www.vetwow.com/
Vetwow (www.vetwow.com) provides military women (and men) liaison services for accessing VA benefits, and treatment for active duty and veteran military sexual assault victims.
Contact Information Susan Avila-Smith
Director, Vetwow
Email: smith715@comcast.net
I can be contacted by phone through Skype.com at my email address, or text your number to 206-999-4133, and I will return your call.
MORE ABOUT VETERAN WOMEN ORGANIZING WOMEN: First, as I said, The Mustang Major must admit that I knew nothing about this Veterans and Military Women’s organization evidently formed by women for women. Though that is their focus, they also depend on the support of us guys who strongly feel women must be viewed and treated with respect and as partners not inferior or playthings.
The mission of Veterans Women Organizing Women (VetWow) is to promote the safety of American military troops, and Homeland Security troops (Coast Guard) by educating government officials and representatives on dynamics of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and working to change current policies, procedures, and laws regarding MST through (non-partisan questions for) the White House, Congressional inquiries, the Pentagon and beyond.
Seek prosecution, incarceration and monitoring of active duty sex offenders through victim advocacy to include legal and media representation. (Military sex offenders should be treated no different from civilian sex offenders).
http://www.militarysexoffendersregistry.com/
Assist in the healing of MST victims by guiding them through the arduous process of obtaining military discharges and retirements, Veterans Administration disability compensation, counseling, and medical benefits, and Social Security disability benefits.
Draft and develop supporting documentation for VA and related benefits claims. Peer counsel clients and their families on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to understand and adapt to negative behaviors created by violence to promote positive support and recovery. Obtain compassionate emergency and routine care for illnesses and symptoms secondary to MST.
Assist in stability of MST victims and their immediate families by securing housing, public assistance, clothing, and employment. Escort clients to legal and medical appointments. Handle crisis calls on private hotline to include family break-ups, suicide attempts, hospitalizations, termination of employment, and fiscal emergencies.
Seek eradication (and repeal) of the McDowell checklist, the Feres Doctrine and 5 Laws of Immunity which are currently used by the Armed Forces (and other agencies) to protect sex offenders, (encourage and condone) prosecution and persecution of victims who report MST to include civilian victims of military recruiters.
Seek a system whereby military sex offenders' records follow them into civilian life, decreasing the possibility that sex offenders can participate in such programs as Troops to Teachers or obtain employment in public schools and hospitals. (This is in line with the moral and ethical need for military sex offenders to be socially stigmatized just as any other sexual predator.)
Encourage a military and veteran society (and community) where the contributions of women as well as domestic violence, sexual harassment and abuse are taken seriously.
Achieve equal access to legal entitlement to benefits earned through military service by educating veterans on available services and benefits and guiding them through applications and processes to include VA appeals.
(Emphasis added by Major Bobby Hanafin, U.S. Air Force-Retired)
Related Links:
Yahoo International: Coverage of Lance Corporal Lauterbach’s murder has reached international proportions with 222 hits searching for the incident on Chinese, Korean, and Japanese language search engines.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Corporal+Maria+Lauterbach&btnG=Google+Search
Robert L. Hanafin
The Mustang Major
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