Following Boot Camp in Orlando, Florida, I was to transfer to Millington, Tn., for my A school. The weekend I left boot camp for Millington, Tn. was Thanksgiving Holiday. When I arrived at the Base it was like a ghost town because so many had left on leave for the holiday. I might add that there was a blizzard happening when I got to the gate. I had no idea where to go or really what to do when I got there other than find some one to tell me where to check in and find my barracks. After walking a ways past the gate a security truck pulled up beside me and asked if I would like a ride to my barracks. I wasn’t immediately sure of the drivers rank but I could tell he was an officer. So I said yes please as I have no idea where to go even if I could see through the snow that was falling so hard. So I hopped in the truck and off we go. After more than a reasonable amount of time driving I asked how far it was to my barracks and he told me we had passed it and he was giving me a tour however we ended up somewhere in the middle of a forest where he stopped finally and immedately began touching my breasts and told me to take off my pants. I was horrified. Never in a million years would I have imagined what was happening. At first I refused then he told me I would never find my way back in the storm and by now it was dark. Feeling I had no choice but to comply I did as he said. And you can imagine the rest. When he was finished he drove me back to the base and dropped me at my barracks. I found out later that he was actually the Base Commander. So that day was pretty much the beginning of the end of my service time. I was afraid to even go out of my barracks. I managed to stay my 180 days to get my benefits and was given a medical discharge. He was the one who actually signed my discharge papers.

It wouldn’t be until many years later that it would be discovered that my many struggles through life were a direct result of what happened that day.