Reply #81: On the way to basic training in 1971...

[kickysnana]

we flew into Atlanta and sat with a noncom, an officers daughter who told us at that time. "Go home as fast as you can. Get out while you still can." I didn't and had the most traumatic few weeks of my life of officer on enlisted voilence, male on female violence, white on black violence, calling the Catholics "malingerers" for attending weekly mass, culminating in a race riot, then lockdown/marchall law/ followed by an offer to let us go home with an honorable discharge. Over half took them up on it. (WACS military intelligence.

I had a sister 15 years younger than I am. Her best friend went in to the Army and had a different but similar experience with the same outcome. (Reverves parpalegal)

In 1998 my (now) daughter-in-law joined because her best friend did. She ended up testifying about her friends gang rape by a real gang and was given an honorable dishcarge because the Army could not guarantee her safty anywhere after she testified. (helicopter repair).

So you can tell your daughter for me. "Stay home, serve your country without being cannon fodder or a victim of a gang." You will not be appreciated, or respected nor safe at any time overseas or stateside."
Some things don't change. You can do more in the Army today but you are still considered comfort women by far too many other fellow soldiers and if you get sick they throw you to the curb, you have to fight for benefits and you often get hijacked into something you didn't sign up for."