Maritime Legal Aid & Advocacy

I am a reserve Captain in the Coast Guard and I was sexually assaulted about 20 years ago at my first unit.

** This anonymous U.S. Coast Guard Survivor Testimonial was originally submitted to “The Pettiest Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard” on Facebook in May of 2024 and re-published by MLAA. MLAA does not know the identity of the author and has not verified any of the claims or allegations made in this testimonial. Light formatting changes for readability, or redactions for PII may have been applied before publishing. **

I am a reservist captain that has been around the Coast Guard for years. Seeing this bravery has me thinking about one of my first experiences in the Coast Guard. I was sexually assaulted by a Seaman at my first unit very early in my career, about 20 years ago. I would like to just refer to him as “Stains” as I recount my experience.

Stains was charismatic and everyone loved him. By Coast Guard standards, he was saltier than most as he had been in the service for a couple of years once I reported from boot camp. He got me drunk one duty night and took advantage of my state. I try to recall the exact details of the duty day, but all I can remember for sure is how sticky he was while he penetrated me in an intoxicated state… my mind blocked everything else out and I’ve always blamed myself because I couldn’t tell for sure if it was my intoxication or the trauma that resulted in my inability to recall.

I woke at what I perceive to be a few hours after the incident and didn’t even realize where I was. I just know I was sticky and I didn’t know if it was from my vomit or from HIM. I reported what happened to my supervisor the next day, MK1 [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] promptly took me to the OinC’s office where I told what I remembered. They collectively blew it off and said that it would be in my best interest to forget about the spotty recollections I had because I was underage and shouldn’t be drinking in the first place.

Stains eventually got kicked out of the Coast Guard, and I heard he joined the Army. This was years ago and last I heard he had risen to the rank of Major! Why does the military protect and promote these people? Why don’t reports stick?!

MJR Stains, I hope this finally catches up to you!

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