I was assaulted on base by a shipmate who preyed on me while I was very drunk. I had experienced divorce and physical trauma (a broken jaw) in the year prior to my assault and, as a result, I was quite vulnerable. I transferred out of that base shortly after and the next year, I went into treatment for alcoholism. I conveyed my assault to a counselor at the time but was told not to talk about it, so I remained silent for over 30 years.

In the last three years, I have been in therapy at the VA for anxiety where we discovered this long-kept secret called Military Sexual Trauma (MST). I have noticed numerous male vets recently disclosing similar encounters. It was relieving and surprising to hear these stories and a little upsetting.