Lavena Johnson's Story

I recently came across a video on Facebook that was quite troubling. It was a story about Lavena Johnson, a 19 year-old Army PFC who was sexually assaulted, raped and brutally murdered. What was even more troubling is that her family was told by the military that Johnson committed suicide. “The U.S. Army ruled Lavena’s death a suicide, but an autopsy report and photographs revealed Johnson had a broken nose, black eye, loose teeth, burns from a corrosive chemical on her genitals, and a gunshot wound that seemed inconsistent with suicide.” How would you feel if a family member died unexpectedly and found out later it was covered up?

According to the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office annual report, in 2011, there were 19,300 sexual crimes against men and women in the military. Sexual assaults increased to 34% in 2012 to a total of 26,300. Although crimes increased, reporting of the crimes dropped 9.8%. Women and men in the military are afraid to report the crimes for fear of retaliation. Sixty-two percent of the people who did report experienced professional, social or administrative retaliation.

What about Lavena Johnson’s murderer? How can we help this friend, sister and daughter? How can we help other military men, women and families? One way is to go to Protect Our Defenders website and sign the petition to help create a new method on how sexual assaults are reported in the military. It is Protect Our Defenders mission to end the epidemic of military rape and to “honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been raped or sexually assaulted by fellow service members.” You can also contribute funds and get involved.

Protect Our Defenders also has a Survivor Support Network. You can find resources near you such as mentoring, mental health and woman only services. This is access to emergency hotline numbers and online support for military sexual assault, suicide prevention and addiction recovery. Get peer-to-peer support from other survivors. Also check out the Pro Bono Legal Network, to find lawyers who are willing to assist rape and sexual assault survivors at no cost. Please seek help and don’t be afraid to tell your story, start the healing process and encourage someone else have a voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp4eZ-BrghE

Nineteen year-old Army PFC LaVena Johnson was found dead on a military base in Balad, Iraq in 2005. The U.S. Army ruled Lavena’s death a suicide, but an autopsy report and photographs revealed Johnson had a broken nose, black eye, loose teeth, burns from a corrosive chemical on her genitals, and a gunshot wound that seemed inconsistent with suicide. LaVena’s father, John Johnson, shares his family’s fight to get answers from the military about his daughter’s death.