Alaska deserves better

To the editor:

Every Alaskan should read the Oct.15 Anchorage Press article “Three-Headed Monster,” or Oct. 18 Alaska Dispatch News article, “National Guard documents detail chronic misconduct among recruiting leaders.” Portions of military investigation reports reveal recruiters preyed on female high school JROTC cadets as young as freshmen, underage recruits, and civilian women by grooming them for sex, molesting and plying them with alcohol until they were unconscious in order to rape them while having soldiers under their command stand guard. If you did not go along, you were punished. Fraternization with senior commanders “resulted in the destruction of unit morale” and allowed the recruiter to “continue to use his rank and position to abuse junior soldiers as well as prey on young women.” Not only did these officers violate military regulations but providing alcohol to minors and rape are serious offenses for which these men to date have not been arrested or charged with any crimes.

The reports show three National Guard chaplains, who knew and had spoken with numerous women who had been sexually assaulted, warned Governor Parnell November 2010 via two separate conference calls and a letter sent to his office. The chaplains advised Parnell the women were too fearful of reprisal to come forward. Men and women soldiers who dared complain either were ignored, threatened or punished. Six of these investigations were concluded between 2010 and 2013 yet Parnell continues to claim he lacked information until the Sept. 4, OCI report came out. His only response for years was to ask former commander Katkus to take care of it.

Common sense dictates you don’t let the fox guard the hen house. Parnell had a chance to show Alaska real leadership by taking action back in 2010 when he learned about the abuses from credible sources. His choice to not respect or protect women and soldiers willing to speak up says volumes about the empty words of his “Choose Respect” slogan and his pathetic performance as a leader, governor and commander in chief of the Guard. Alaska deserves better than Parnell.

Eva Zamzow

Fairbanks