Army Veteran Speaks Out About Sexual Abuse in the Military
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 26, 2012
An Arkansas woman is speaking out about being sexually abused while
serving in the military.
It's been nearly 20 years, but Ginny Lee Head says she is still haunted by the incidents she says scarred her mentally and physically.
She also says she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being sexually assaulted by a drill sergeant.
Now she's encouraging other people to report sexual assault so they won't suffer in silence like she did. Still, she holds on to medals and mementos marking her time serving her country from 1986-1990.
"At first, I was proud but two weeks in I just wanted to survive," said Head.
She says she joined, wanting to become a nurse, but after being sexually assaulted by a superior and says she left scarred.
"Next thing, I knew he was on top of me," she recalled. "I could remember saying 'no, no,' no one could hear me," she said.
Weeks later she says the perpetrator struck again, injuring her shoulder. This time she claims someone did hear what was going on.
"The female drill sergeant started running up the stairs. She saw me pinned against the wall, my feet not touching the floor. She said 'oh sh*t' and walked backwards," said Head.
After struggling for years, Head says the injury forced her out of the Army and left her unable to work. Now, she's not afraid to speak out, hoping to save places like Safe Places.
"There is a lot of love in this room," said Executive Director Kathy Findley, walking around the building.
Safe Places is a non-profit in Little Rock that serves adult and child victims of domestic and sexual abuse, offering the kind of support Head wishes she had.
"We have to heal their invisible wounds as completely and comprehensively as we heal gunshot wounds and shrapnel," said Findley.
As Safe Places struggles to find funding, Head is joining the fight, trying to help others and herself.
"You can survive," she said. "You don't have to bury it and go through it alone, I did that for 25 years."
For her own recovery, she's sending her two new labs, Jancey and Jake to service dog training, hoping one day their barks and cold noses can one day wake her from nightmares and lead to better days ahead.
Head is partnering with Safe Places to bring a documentary about sexual abuse in the military to Little Rock called, "The Invisible War." There is a special screening Wednesday at Market Street Cinema and they have invited military personnel and city leaders from Central Arkansas hoping to raise awareness.
For more on information from the Department of Veterans Affairs on finding help for sexual assault victims, click here.
It's been nearly 20 years, but Ginny Lee Head says she is still haunted by the incidents she says scarred her mentally and physically.
She also says she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being sexually assaulted by a drill sergeant.
Now she's encouraging other people to report sexual assault so they won't suffer in silence like she did. Still, she holds on to medals and mementos marking her time serving her country from 1986-1990.
"At first, I was proud but two weeks in I just wanted to survive," said Head.
She says she joined, wanting to become a nurse, but after being sexually assaulted by a superior and says she left scarred.
"Next thing, I knew he was on top of me," she recalled. "I could remember saying 'no, no,' no one could hear me," she said.
Weeks later she says the perpetrator struck again, injuring her shoulder. This time she claims someone did hear what was going on.
"The female drill sergeant started running up the stairs. She saw me pinned against the wall, my feet not touching the floor. She said 'oh sh*t' and walked backwards," said Head.
After struggling for years, Head says the injury forced her out of the Army and left her unable to work. Now, she's not afraid to speak out, hoping to save places like Safe Places.
"There is a lot of love in this room," said Executive Director Kathy Findley, walking around the building.
Safe Places is a non-profit in Little Rock that serves adult and child victims of domestic and sexual abuse, offering the kind of support Head wishes she had.
"We have to heal their invisible wounds as completely and comprehensively as we heal gunshot wounds and shrapnel," said Findley.
As Safe Places struggles to find funding, Head is joining the fight, trying to help others and herself.
"You can survive," she said. "You don't have to bury it and go through it alone, I did that for 25 years."
For her own recovery, she's sending her two new labs, Jancey and Jake to service dog training, hoping one day their barks and cold noses can one day wake her from nightmares and lead to better days ahead.
Head is partnering with Safe Places to bring a documentary about sexual abuse in the military to Little Rock called, "The Invisible War." There is a special screening Wednesday at Market Street Cinema and they have invited military personnel and city leaders from Central Arkansas hoping to raise awareness.
For more on information from the Department of Veterans Affairs on finding help for sexual assault victims, click here.
