Andrea

Andrea served on active duty in the Navy, as Naval Intelligence. Unfortunately, she was subject to sexual harassment that made her decide to leave and join the Army National Guard in 1990. At the time, she had a five-year-old son and a new spouse of three months. She went through 11 months of training to become a medic before deploying in 1991, at the age of 24 to 25. While in theater, she assisted with setting up the hospital and outhouses, and assigned to work in the ER. The only symptoms noticed in theater were a broken tailbone and an umbilical hernia, which delayed her return home by one month, due to surgery. She felt that she was exposed to some gases during times of bombing because they were provided one charcoal suit and an unproperly sealed or fitting mask. They were in this gear for 48 hours, before being told they can take it off, yet the bombings continued.

Upon returning home, she noticed that she was getting frequent bronchitis infections and had never had one in her life prior to deployment. In the year 2000, she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and has been receiving treatment for PTSD since 2012. Another diagnosis is having her retinas detach, which she feels is related to exposure to welding. Andrea has always sought care from the VA and has only seen outside providers as assigned. She also feels that her children that were born post war, are also affected by exposures. There is not a family history of eczema, asthma, or psoriasis; yet her children suffer greatly from these diagnoses.

Andrea has help from the VA, her children, and her best friend with a similar history. She had horrific relations with her parents, who are now deceased. She finds that talking about her experiences with her VA counselor is important and she continues to go once per month. Before starting to work at the VA, she was working at the University of Utah. She used to find joy in crocheting, cross stitching and sudoku, all of which she can no longer do with her rheumatoid arthritis. She has yet to file a claim, even though instructed to; after she was denied the claim for her eyes; she does not trust the process.

Although there were exposures and injuries, what hurt the most was the sexual misconduct. She did not have a chance to stand up for herself or act, as the leaders immediately moved the commanding officer out of the unit and off the base, overnight. When she was asked her side of events, she was told it was her fault for looking the way she did. This stuck with her and made her want to change her appearance so that she did not have to be taken advantage of ever again. Her message is to the active-duty side, to listen to your female soldiers and protect them. Do not tell them that they are to blame when they are the victim.