Soldier who says she was raped in Kuwait reportedly attempts suicide

The Olympian ^ | December 5, 2003 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

A female soldier from Fort Lewis, who says she was raped in Kuwait and complained of being isolated in the attack's aftermath, has since tried to commit suicide, her mother said Thursday. Barbara Wharton, of Lancaster County, Pa., said her 23-year-old daughter tried to commit suicide Wednesday night by swallowing pills. She said her daughter sought help after the attempt.

[wimpycat]

Something about this story just isn't right...and this alleged suicide attempt makes the story sound even more not right.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

when a masked man with "an American voice" hit her on the back of the head.

I'm not necessarily disputing her story, but if she was hit on the back of the head how could she see he had a mask on? If you are facing someone they can't hit you from the back. Did she have physical injuries? Sounds like she was hit hard enough to leave evidence.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Something about this story just isn't right...

I think so too.

[jagrmeister]

>but if she was hit on the back of the head how could she see he had a mask on?

Good point. In any case, I think it would be best if they just sent her back.

[Ramius]

I hear you. It bothers me to think I might be cynical enough to not believe her first. It should be instinctual to believe and want to protect a rape victim. But something just seems so wrong with this story, like there really must be much more about it than is being reported just yet.

Don't know. It will play out how it plays out.

[ExSoldier]

I was stationed at Fort Lewis in the early 1980's. There were only four different uints there. 1st SF GRP; 2nd Ranger Bn; 9th Inf Div (my outfit) and I Corps HQ. Only the 9th and I ("EYE") Corps, have any level where there are female soldiers. Since the 9th has faded away into the mysts of time, that only leaves I Corps. She has got to be a "support puke." I wonder if she was even armed. Geeze you would think that being in a foreign land in the area of a war zone where you know a sizable portion of the population would like to see you crawling through the streets trailing your eviscerated entrails....would at least make you a little more aware.

Jessica Lynch was proud to say she never fired her weapon as she was being subjugated.

[First_Salute]

Why these women do not wear a sidearm or their combat knife while going to the shower when "in country," remains a mystery. If not issued either, they should first check one out and then go take their shower, and then return the weapon, after.

Other than the simple requirement that their training should be sufficient that their level of alert ought to give rise to their early detection of danger.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

When she regained consciousness, she told her mother, she was gagged and bound with cord. She said she was hit in the head and face, and blacked out a second time. When she woke up, she realized she had been raped, according to her mother.

And another thing, if he was masked and she was gagged, what was the point of hitting her and knocking her out? She couldn't scream or identify him. Plus, it seems counterproductive to bind a person's extremities if you intend to commit rape.

The pieces of this story don't fit.

[templar]

Jessica Lynch was proud to say she never fired her weapon as she was being subjugated.

So was the Army apparently. I understand she got a Bronze for it.

[goodnesswins]

Wasn't she within earshot of others?.....wouldn't you think a scream would have HELP coming to run to her assistance?....it's a thought I've had.....just wondering.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

If she was bound and gagged, did she free herself or did someone find her?

[Az Joe]

The mother says "hang on for the next 24 hours"? Is it just me or does that sound funny? I mean, if she were my kid it would be,"you hang on for the next 24 years!" and then I'd be down at my congressman's office posthaste .

[sullivan-fan]

I believe also stationed at Fort Lewis is the 3rd Brigade, Second Infantry Division, a so-called Stryker Brigade. She may be a member of this unit.

[dadokane]

yeah, she couldn't have got hit on the head AFTER she saw a masked man.

and yeah, she couldn't have HEARD HIS VOICE through the mask,

yeah, and don't call attention to a thing as insignificant as RAPE because we don't want to hear anything bad said about this operation, and yeah she's a LIAR for making us look bad, and yeah, others should take note of how we'll treat THEM should they come forward with such nonsense, and ... and ... and ... yeah we're all such great Chistians here on FREE ... just look at our posts ...

[Cicero]

I'm not going to get into whether or not she was raped. But am I the only person to find this statement of her mothers more than a little strange?

"There's no one with her, watching her, to make sure it doesn't happen again."

She's a soldier, abroad in a hostile environment, and she needs a personal keeper to protect her? Something is not right here.

[niteowl77]

yeah we're all such great Chistians here on FREE

Brother in Christ, if you need assistance in getting that log out of your eye, I'm willing to help.

[ExSoldier]

" 3rd Brigade, Second Infantry Division, a so-called Stryker Brigade. She may be a member of this unit."

Not at the brigade level she's not. That's still pure infantry troops. No female support pukes allowed. Not even the bde "slice" element has any women. This part of the dog is still all teeth and no "tail." So to speak. There will be three infantry battalions and a brigade headquarters element which will be made up of the S-staff: S-1 personnel, S-2 Intel, S-3 Ops, and S-4 Logistics. Support would probably include direct support artillery and an aviation battalion with both cargo and attack companies. Still all teeth.

The 9th Infantry Division, where I was a platoon leader of....lessee, a leg infantry platoon, a TOW platoon and a "FAV" (Fast Attack---the first Dune Buggies...even before Delta or the SEALs had 'em) platoon had as the lowest level where the women participated the support elements at the Division level. That's basically, "in the rear...with the gear...." The exception MIGHT be the MP's or an errant truck platoon.....like Jessica Lynch, coming under enemy fire of a direct nature.

[thathamiltonwoman]

Something about this story isn't right. Can anyone explain why she hasn't been brought back to the States or at at least in a hospital in Germany?