Military rape was topic of Veterans day activity

Holly Buchanan Staff Writer

Willie Duhon went out to have a few drinks at a bar alone, and when he got back to the barracks that’s when it happened. “I never saw it coming. I never knew who they were. I saw the fist and that was it,” Duhon said.

Duhon is a veteran and was a guest speaker during Pierce College’s screening of the documentary “Invisible War” on Nov. 6 in the Performance Lounge. “Invisible War” addresses the ongoing issue of sexual assault in the military.

Duhon grew up in Compton and was the oldest of seven. “I always had to be in charge because I was the oldest,” Duhon said. After growing up in Compton and realizing that every corner “someone wants to pick at you.” Duhon wanted to get away, which led to him joining the Army.

“This was my world; this was my life. I wanted to make Mom and Dad proud,” Duhon said.

After being stationed in Korea with guard duty, bunker riot control and riot simulation, Duhon said that “after all that is over everyone is ready to celebrate.” Duhon said he “got caught slippin” (drunk) and went back to the barracks, and that’s when he was sexually assaulted.

“The blood rushed through my head and I passed out again, it was like the worst thing I ever felt,” Duhon said. He stayed in his room the whole weekend terrified. After Duhon was sexually assaulted he told people who saw his bruised face that he got into a fight.

“I stuck to that story. I couldn’t tell anyone – not me, not the man, not the sergeant Willy”, Duhon said.

Duhon wondered who he would tell and if he did tell who he would be and what he would be. After over 30 years Duhon shared his secret with a doctor.

“While I was in the veterans hospital, I was told you got to let it out. The doctor asked me about MST (military sexual trauma). So I said yes,” Duhon said. It was “just a few years ago” when Duhon decided to get help and he shared, “I’m here today because I was able to get help. A lot of vets don’t know where to go.”

According to the 2012 Department of Defense’s annual report on sexual assault in the military, over the past six years the Department estimates fewer than 15 percent of military sexual assault victims report the matter to a military authority.

The report also states that in the fiscal year of 2012 the Military Services received a total of 3,374 reports of sexual assault involving Service members as either victims or subjects, which represents a six percent increase from the 3,192 reports made in the fiscal year of 2011.

The annual report stated that in the 3,374 reports of sexual assault 3,604 were victims. According to the Department of Defense there are more victims than reports because an Unrestricted Report of sexual assault can include one or more victims, one or more subjects, and one or more crimes. Therefore, the number of reports received in a year does not equal the number of victims and the number of subjects stated in the reports.

Duhon didn’t have the chance to tell his parents what happened to him before they passed away and that was one of his biggest regrets. “The best thing you can do for us (vets) is listen,” Duhon said.

On Nov. 5 Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their sexual assault resource center. Katrina Kilmartin a SHARP (sexual harassment/ assault response and prevention) victim advocate stated, “JBLM is the first base to have a sexual assault center.” JBLM SHARP Resource Center offers a 24 hour hotline and is open Monday- Friday 7:30a.m. – 4:30p.m.