As the title suggests, I'm a disabled veteran from Desert Storm.
I thought it could be helpful and therapeutic to write down some or parts of my story as well as how each day works for a disabled veteran. All in the hopes of educating Americans on the truth behind the Iron Curtain of our government and our VA system.
My name is Heather. I joined the Navy a year out of high school, just as the war was starting. I really didn't think much of it, but I must say my thoughts may be a tad skewed now.
I loved boot camp, I think everyone should be made to go into boot camp after high school, not join but just to learn about discipline, your actions affecting others and a general your owed nothing in this life mindset.
I truly felt I had found a new family if sisters. Some of us even went on to our A-Schooling together. My best friend in boot camp and I were allowed to be in the same room.
Once in A-School, things start to change, I was one girl in a group of about 300 men. As a female, you have to be 200% better and stronger than a man. I was punched, hit, slapped, etc all just so they could see me cry...well, I can tell you, I may have cried later in my room, but there was no way in HELL I was going to let them see it, not even the start of a tear.
It's also the place you, as a female, learn that they, not just the students, but the teachers as well, really just want what they can get from you. I think you get my point. If you flirt, they let you have special privileges, if you let them slobber on you, you might just get an A on that next test. It all depends on how far you let them go. I never let it get far, other than some flirting.
Once I was sent off to my base, I was thrilled, I thought, this will be great, I'll be near my family, oh wait, they just moved from the state, so your alone again. I checked into my housing, met my roommates and then was told to report to my CO, which of course I did. He was a very kind man with a gentle soul. He introduced me around, seemed again I'd be one girl amongst all men. What are you gonna do??
They assigned Petty Officer Suggs to show me around the base. He did that and more. I got a weird vibe from him to begin with, but sometimes it takes awhile to get to know someone. Now this was a married man. He drove me around in his beat up car and showed me where everything was located, great, thanks. It started getting dark....I said to him, I should probably get back to the barracks so I can get to the chow hall and eat. Instead, he chose to rape me on the base in his car.
I don't know if things have really changed now, but then, you kept your mouth shut. You didn't talk about these things, especially implicating a fellow serviceman. You'd be kicked out, at least that's what they told us.
The next day, I arrived for my job and I could spence another Petty Officer, who I'll call Pat, sensed something was off between P.O. Suggs and I. He no longer allowed P.O. Suggs to train me nor every be alone with me....EVER! I don't know that P.O. Pat ever really knew what happened, but he became my surrogate brother and his wife, Michelle, my sister. I was always welcomed at their home for dinner or to sleepover. I don't know if I ever thanked him properly, but I'll take this time to say, Thank You Pat! You have no idea how much you truly helped and saved me.
Whoosh....that's a lot for just a few minutes. I'll let that sink in and I'll be back tomorrow.
Thank you for your time and for listening!
I thought it could be helpful and therapeutic to write down some or parts of my story as well as how each day works for a disabled veteran. All in the hopes of educating Americans on the truth behind the Iron Curtain of our government and our VA system.
My name is Heather. I joined the Navy a year out of high school, just as the war was starting. I really didn't think much of it, but I must say my thoughts may be a tad skewed now.
I loved boot camp, I think everyone should be made to go into boot camp after high school, not join but just to learn about discipline, your actions affecting others and a general your owed nothing in this life mindset.
I truly felt I had found a new family if sisters. Some of us even went on to our A-Schooling together. My best friend in boot camp and I were allowed to be in the same room.
Once in A-School, things start to change, I was one girl in a group of about 300 men. As a female, you have to be 200% better and stronger than a man. I was punched, hit, slapped, etc all just so they could see me cry...well, I can tell you, I may have cried later in my room, but there was no way in HELL I was going to let them see it, not even the start of a tear.
It's also the place you, as a female, learn that they, not just the students, but the teachers as well, really just want what they can get from you. I think you get my point. If you flirt, they let you have special privileges, if you let them slobber on you, you might just get an A on that next test. It all depends on how far you let them go. I never let it get far, other than some flirting.
Once I was sent off to my base, I was thrilled, I thought, this will be great, I'll be near my family, oh wait, they just moved from the state, so your alone again. I checked into my housing, met my roommates and then was told to report to my CO, which of course I did. He was a very kind man with a gentle soul. He introduced me around, seemed again I'd be one girl amongst all men. What are you gonna do??
They assigned Petty Officer Suggs to show me around the base. He did that and more. I got a weird vibe from him to begin with, but sometimes it takes awhile to get to know someone. Now this was a married man. He drove me around in his beat up car and showed me where everything was located, great, thanks. It started getting dark....I said to him, I should probably get back to the barracks so I can get to the chow hall and eat. Instead, he chose to rape me on the base in his car.
I don't know if things have really changed now, but then, you kept your mouth shut. You didn't talk about these things, especially implicating a fellow serviceman. You'd be kicked out, at least that's what they told us.
The next day, I arrived for my job and I could spence another Petty Officer, who I'll call Pat, sensed something was off between P.O. Suggs and I. He no longer allowed P.O. Suggs to train me nor every be alone with me....EVER! I don't know that P.O. Pat ever really knew what happened, but he became my surrogate brother and his wife, Michelle, my sister. I was always welcomed at their home for dinner or to sleepover. I don't know if I ever thanked him properly, but I'll take this time to say, Thank You Pat! You have no idea how much you truly helped and saved me.
Whoosh....that's a lot for just a few minutes. I'll let that sink in and I'll be back tomorrow.
Thank you for your time and for listening!
