Update on Jennifer Dyer: Raped in the Military

By: Jack Dalton

For those of you who have been following the case of 1st Lt Jennifer Dyer, the young woman who was sent to Camp Shelby, Ms for pre Iraq deployment training, where she was subsequently raped by 1st Lt Michael Hall, here is an update from Fred Klepp her attorney. For those not familiar with Jennifer's story, it is archived here on POAC.

"The N.J. National Guard has been issued orders, and has been directed to honorably discharge Jennifer immediately with an effective date of 8/31/04." So far, according to Jennifer's attorney, Fredrick Klepp, "there is no final word on the pending court martial of her accused rapist, 1st Lt Michael Hall", whose unit, the 278th Regimental Combat Team is now in Iraq.

From what I have learned, Hall is facing charges of "Conduct Un-becoming an Officer; knowingly spreading a contagious venereal disease; and adultery" - according to Fred Klepp, the Army has not decided if they will press the charge of rape against Hall.

If Hall is not charged, nor prosecuted for rape, where is the justice? This was never about Jennifer wanting to "use" anything to get a discharge. It was, and remains an issue of justice and of holding Hall accountable for his actions. (In fact, I have received multiple emails from some of Halls friends in the 278th telling me to back off and that Jennifer "asked" for it (including two death threats I have saved). Even Halls sister wrote to me telling me essentially the same thing and to back off and leave her "poor" brother alone.)

But then, the U.S. military in general has a really bad--to say the least -- record when it comes to prosecuting rapists within the ranks. Slaps on the wrist; cover ups; denials; destroying the lives of the women that have the temerity to demand justice, that's the military way. Anything but confront the systemic problem of rape which is not only occurring on a daily basis throughout all branches of the military, but is on a definite increase.

Even in the rare instances when someone is prosecuted for committing rape, the sentences levied are a joke. A month or two in the brig, then back to full duty is the general rule; that is if the individual is not just transferred to a new unit and not prosecuted at all.

What's really bad about all of this is simply the fact how rape is generally viewed and dismissed throughout the country as a whole. The best and most recent example of what I mean is the recent story by the Philadelphia Inquirer. I can’t remember right now if it was aired on CNN, MSNBC or (ugh) FOX. The gist of the report is what is important.

It seems that over the past 20, yes 20 years, the Philadelphia police department has been telling thousands of rape victims their case were being "vigorously" investigated. It turns out, thanks to some serious investigative journalism, that the Phil. Police has been doing just the opposite. In fact, they, for 20 years, have been systematically re-classifying rape cases and writing them off - closed.

While people in general voice their outrage over and about rape, those in positions of "authority" in this country, civilian authorities and military authorities keep going about the business of criminalizing the victims and giving a "wink and a nod" to the rapist.

For those of you who find this as outrageous as do I, here is the link to the Feminist Peace Network. Its founder, and moderator is a marvelous woman, and she has one of the best informative web publications about this and women's issues in general, I know about. Give the Feminist Peace Network a visit and get "on-board" as the systemic crime problem of rape in the military will not go away on its own. It will take a high level of non-stop national, vocal and visible outrage to even begin to bring this to an end.

Jack Dalton is a disabled Vietnam veteran and Co-Editor of the web publication Project for the old American Century

Posted by rowan at January 26, 2005 12:35 PM | TrackBack | [eMail this article!] |