This week, the Australian network SBS brings its focus to the death of Pfc. LaVena Johnson and the issue of sexual assault in the US military in a Dateline story by journalist Ginny Stein. The feature, “Dark Secrets,” is scheduled to air on May 29, but the video is available now to watch online.
From the Dateline website:
[Sexual assault] is a pervasive problem, with Veterans Affairs statistics showing nearly one in three female soldiers are sexually harassed while serving their country, and for some the consequences are devastating.
Private LaVena Lyn Johnson was just five weeks into her tour of Iraq when she was found dead in a contractor’s tent. The US Army concluded the 19-year-old committed suicide after firing her M16 rifle into her mouth.
However, her father, who worked in the military as a civilian specialist in psychology, refuses to believe his daughter committed suicide.
For the past three years, Dr John Johnson has studied almost every aspect of his daughter’s death. He now believes LaVena was raped and murdered by someone in her camp, and accuses the army of covering up a soldier on soldier slaying.
Dr Johnson says he will keep fighting for justice until the army changes “their attitude about how they treat women in the military”.
Stein is an award-winning journalist who previously spent four years in Southeast Asia reporting for the ABC. Her stories for SBS have taken her from Indonesia to Zimbabwe, from Rwanda to the United States.
My name is Mac Walton. Through a guy name Scotty from Black Talk Radio, Dr. Johnson mentioned that he was trying to reach me. He read the post , or the several posts, that I’ve written about PFC Johnson and the shame of the military in how they’ve deal with PFC Johnson’s case.
Please let Dr. Johnson know that I can be reached at culturaldynamics@msn.com.
I can also be reached at my blog: daddyBstrong.blogspot.com
Thanks.
Just saw the sad and tragic story on SBS. Just hope you can find justice for your daughter and peace for yourselves.
DEAR DR. AND MRS. JOHNSON:
I AM A RETIRED AIR FORCE NURSE, VIETNAM VETERANS. I HAVE FOUR GRANDAUGHTERS IN THE MILITARY THAT ARE OFFICERS, AND SEVERAL YOUNG FRIENDS(FEMALE) SERVING IN COMBAT. MY GRANDAUGHTERS TELL ME THAT THIS IS MAINLY AIMED AT ENLISTED WOMEN, WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANY WOMAN! YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS IN MY PENNA. AREA TO HEAR ME ON THIS ONE, AND NO ONES TO TOUCH THIS. I PLAN ON MAKING A PEST OUT OF MYSELF, UNTIL SOMEONE HEARS ME. IF I CAN BE OF ANY HELP IN ANYWAY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH.
IN PRAYER AND RESPECT,
REGINA WMS., R.N.
RIP in Peace LaVena I pray that the Johnson family finds out the truth and the crimal(s) pray for their crime sincerely. LaVena doesnt deserve how she has been treated/ or to have her life taken from her and justice will be served!
I am want to say that my services as a detective and former Police Officer. I have the experienced detectives and others that would help in any way we could. What happened to LaVena is evil revealed. I and other honorable veterans will not rest until your daughter’s assault and murder are exposed.
J.A. Francois
I want to say that my services as a detective and former Police Officer. I have the experienced detectives and others that would help in any way we could. What happened to LaVena is evil revealed. I and other honorable veterans will not rest until your daughter’s assault and murder are exposed.
J.A. Francois
It was a very long day. What I meant was I offer my services to the Johnson Family.
J.A. Francois
so, let me get this straight…they find her naked, mutilated, sexually assaulted body in a military contractors tent and claim suicide. surely, it is obvious to anyone with 2 brain cells that the government is covering up for some one or some people connected with the contractor (KBR). isn’t this the same contractor guilty of male employees and such sexually assaulting their female employees? i was in government for a while (20 yr military vet & 10 year civil servant) and ime telling you this: contractor+middle eastern country+sexual assault/murder+noone in government touching this=COVERUP!!!!
yup, she dressed for a jog, bought some snacks, went into some strangers tent, stripped herself bare assed naked, poured acid on her genitals, busted up her face and body in several places, burned her hands, sexually assaulted herself and then shot herself in the head.
wow, sounds like your typical suicide to me.
listen up government geniuses, you can put lipstick on a pig, but that don’t make her prom queen! oh, you can try but, the audience figures it out pretty quick.
someone have the guts to find out the real deal. we are willing to put our lives on the line. the least y’all can do is have our backs. especially, when some over paid contractor may be enjoying some serial raping/murdering on the counrty’s dime!
rip pvt johnson. ime so sorry you and your family had to go through this. thank you for serving. you will always be my sister veteran.
peace out
sgt annabelle, retired
a few corrections:
she wasnt found naked….
they didnt do a rape kit….
yet, she killed herself, then tried to burn her and the tent down….
i still say her case is being covered up.
Someone saw something. What is the Co Cdr saying about this? What about her battle buddy?
‘A lie can never live .’ ‘what is done in the dark will always come to light.’ ‘Regardless of rank, if you see something wrong and don’t fix it, you have just set a new standard.’ ‘Justice delayed does not mean justice denied.’
does anyone have a email address for her father?
After reading this story, I am in shock. I have been reading all day about stories of military and cover ups and its making me so angry inside. Especially this story, that has all the evidence of an obvious rape and cover up and it makes me sick. This beautiful young girl just trying to do whats right and serve her country, giving the ultimate sacrifice and is repayed by this. KBR has a huge record of horrible things, and what makes the military think that out of all the crazy things like rape, murder, etc.. that goes on in america wouldnt follow to places like iraq and afghanistan. I will never understand why things happen like they do, and probably will not ever, until i do meet god. I really hope he helps me understand why all these things can happen to such great people in this world, and yet the horrible people stay on top and continue to reign. I suppose we can ask spc johnson herself when we get there though, and again my heart goes out to the johnson family. I will pray for yall every day!
I am devastated by the behavior of the US army and how they are covering up this rape, murder of SPC Johnson. It seems as if they became used to their actions and have gotten bolder over years of coverups. They know how to do it so well and without a conscience. Do they realize these are human beings here with families or do they think they just have families who are worthy of respect and decency.
This madness has to cease. I will keep Spc.Johnson’s family in my prayers and also pray for justice because these coverups have gone on too long and if something doesn’t happen now, it will continue . Something definitely has to be done. I am very angry at the people who did this to her and this story touched me in so many ways that I will continue to follow the progress and support the family and there fight for justice.
Hi Mr. and Mrs. Johnson
I was in basic training with Lavena, it has been so long yet I still remember everything about her. We shared the same birthday and it hurts me to know that she is gone… I didn’t want to believe it at 1st but I had too. I want to do my part plus ++++ in getting justice for Lavena. I got nauseous and cried hard when I watched the video. I guess I wasn’t expecting that and I’m so sorry. I believe in prayer, I believe in repentance but for some reason I feel like the coward(s) that did this to her doesn’t have a chance. So Lord please 4give me for I am just angry with what they did to my friend. I’m furious. I got out the Army before my time. I couldn’t stomach it anymore, I hate the Army and how they treat your family. Please reach out to me let me know what I can do because the petition doesn’t seem to be working. I will faithfully donate to Lavena’s scholarship fund….for I do serve a God that’s worthy to be praised all day everyday and I now he will bless your program. I guess the military picked the wrong family..for one they didn’t know that you are a God fearing family and no one.. not even the government can get away from him.. They also didn’t realize the kind of person Lavena was and that she would have so much support from friends family to strangers….IF YOU ARE WATCHING THIS VIDEO… I PRAY THAT GOD HAS MERCY ON YOUR SICK SOUL BUT YOUR TIME WILL COME TO PASS!
This is a REALLY sad case. I hope that justice will be served for the family and friends of this young lady. Hopefully when the silent truth comes to light it will prevent things like this from happening in the future. I send my sincere condolences.
Sad… My best friend in the whole world wright now has a daughter in the armed service’s she sent me this article, it had to be a concern to her and it’s a bigger concern for me because I have a daughter who wants to work in Iraq once she graduate’s from collage. Even though she will work as a civilian she will work under U.S.Military supervision. Sorry but my daughter will take her degree in engineering and design state side. Thank you Terri Henry…..
FOR GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY AND BUNDANTLY ABOVE ANYTHINY,ANYTHING THAT WE CAN THINK OR ASK….I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES OUT TO THIS FAMILY AND TO SAY THANK U FOR THE SERVICE OF YOUR DAUGHTER . I JUST SAW A NEWS CLIP A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND IT REALLY CAPTURED MY ATTENTION. I WILL NEVER KNOW THE PAIN OF RECIEVING THAT KIND OF NEWS…I CANT IMAGINE WHAT YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH
I APPLAUD YOUR CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AS YOU SHOULD AND JUST KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH YOU WANT ONLY JUSTICE, VENGENCE IS MINE SAYETH THE LORD ….SO BE ENCOURAGED AND GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY..T.M.D