There is an ongoing overlooked war happening within our military, and that is sexual assault. This ongoing epidemic plaguing our military has taken the lives and innocence of so many brave men and women who serve our country. That’s why longtime local business owner, Betty Buck, sold her company and started a foundation to raise awareness in memory of her late son.
Danny’s story:
She received a call from her son, Danny, one April morning in 2019. Danny was a proud member of the United States Navy. On that call, he told her he had been sexually assaulted by three fellow service members. He described the pain and suffering he was experiencing – he felt as though he had lost all of his dignity and humanity and could never regain them.
The San Diego police and two of his best friends arrived at his apartment in hopes of saving him. Unfortunately, it was too late; Danny took his life.
Before he did that, Danny specifically asked her, “Mom, when you believe in something, you are a force of nature, and I am no longer strong enough to do this, but I need you to promise to work to make a change so that other children don’t grow up without parents.” She will never forget the promise she made to her son.
In June 2020, she decided to sell the 74-year-old family business that she had owned and run for the past 45 years to create this foundation in honor of her son.
Abuse in the service:
According to a 2020 report by the Pentagon, sexual assault cases continue to rise across every single branch of the military. In 2019, only 138 offenders were convicted of a nonconsensual sex offense across all five service branches. This translates to an overall conviction rate of 2.4%.
In the military, if a service member is assaulted and decides to report it, it is up to the Commanding Officer to elect if the case moves forward. In most cases, it never does.
As sexual assault continues to run rampant in the U.S. military, the justice system remains intact, allowing perpetrators to evade punishment for their crimes. There must be a drastic change in this broken system that allows our heroes to suffer.
About HM2
HM2 Buck for Hope Foundation seeks to make others aware of the rising number of sexual assault cases across all military branches. They are working tirelessly to find justice for the many victims of sexual assault their families.
By donating to the HM2 Buck for Hope Foundation, you can become a part of the evolving narrative surrounding sexual assault in our military.
Together, we can work to increase public awareness surrounding military sexual trauma while continuing our mission of seeking justice for the many victims of sexual assault and their families.
Contact:
If you would like to get involved and support our mission, please visit www.hm2buckforhope.com. Donations can be made to the HM2 Buck for Hope Foundation: NCF SO – HM2 Buck for Hope Foundation, c/o CTAC, Plaza South Two, 7261 Eagle Road, Suite 202, Cleveland, Ohio 44130
