Protect Our Defenders News Blog

 

[VIDEO] Local veteran speaks out about military sexual assault

KAIT-TV reports:

Sexual assaults in the U.S. military are up by 50 percent from the 2012 to 2013 fiscal year, according to CNN.

The Department of Defense reports more than 5,000 sexual assaults occurred in 2013. The department attributed the sharp increase, in part, to more victims coming forward, like Paragould veteran Susan Upchurch.

Upchurch had always dreamed of enlisting in the U.S. Army to proudly serve her country. After 9/11, she had her chance.

However, ten days into her first deployment, Susan’s dream turned into a nightmare.

“I got assaulted by a fellow soldier and ten days after that, he came back and raped me,” Upchurch said.

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