A courageous battle against sexual abuse

The U.S. Coast Guard failed to protect recruit Elisha Morrow from sexual abuse by her commander.

After other recruits went to bed at bootcamp in New Jersey, Chief Petty Officer Carlos Resendez would call her to his office for a "special job." He would make her scrub the floor on her hands and knees, and position himself suggestively beside her. He made crude comments about her body and asked questions about her boyfriend.

And he got away with it.

What's disturbing about Morrow's story is how strikingly similar it sounds to others we've heard about military commanders, mostly men, who take advantage of the power they hold over young recruits.

But because this young Boynton Beach woman has refused to remain silent — refusing to play the role of victim — she may help make a difference for other young women who follow in her footsteps.

With the support of U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, Morrow's crusade could help change the military's definition of sexual assault and create tougher consequences for those who harass subordinates.

You would think, given the never-ending stories about sexual assault in the military, that loopholes would have been closed and behaviors changed long ago.

And it's the ultimate irony that Morrow's harasser led anti-sexual harassment training at the bootcamp she attended in Cape May, N.J.

But at night, his behavior changed.

And not just toward her.

Morrow reported Resendez, kicking off a year-long investigation that uncovered a pattern of bad behavior. Resendez admitted to having sex with a 21-year-old recruit, whom he similarly made clean his office at night. In that case, he ordered the young woman to remove her clothes and had sex with her. Twice. For this, he was court-martialed and convicted on charges of maltreating subordinates and adultery.

But a charge of aggravated sexual assault was dismissed against him because "the formal evidence" was lacking, a spokesman told Sun Sentinel reporter Ben Wolford.

Morrow, who testified against him, was incensed that a military officer could entice a recruit to have sex and evade assault charges.

So she began a crusade. She wrote hundreds of letters and submitted pieces to activist blogs. And she contacted Frankel, who rightly agreed the threshhold is too low for what the military calls rape and sexual assault.

Frankel proposed a much-needed amendment that would require the military to re-examine its definitions, which demand proof of physical harm or threat of life. Such distinctions do not exist in civilian courts and have no place in military justice, either.

Frankel's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House of Representatives two weeks ago. Now she's working to ensure the Senate includes her provision in the defense bill.

As she said on the House floor, "When our daughters and our sons put on the uniform to protect us, the United States, they must be protected from such abuse of power to the utmost extent."

Being harassed by anyone is traumatic. Having it done by someone who may lead you in war is nearly inconceivable.

In the end, Morrow took early leave from the Coast Guard. Her military career is over. But she deserves our gratitude for continuing a courageous fight for our country.