It was of course a lie, because two short days later he distributed the video throughout her platoon.
Devastated, but determined she still had her sights on the BMW. In a last ditch effort a soldier who was assumed gay during the “don’t ask/don’t tell” era also was to PCS to Fort Lewis proposed a sham marriage. This union would increase both of their monthly incomes. Sham marriage’s are frowned upon in the military because they pull resources under false pretenses. Against disapprobation from her peers, family, and valued Non Commission Officers (NCO) advice they married a month before moving to Washington. Armed with a husband to co-sign, the additional income a sham marriage brings she purchase the the BMW. 3 months after the director of the USO informed me that both soldiers were kicked out of the military with dishonorable discharges. I remember feeling during the soldiers quest for the BMW the feeling of concern, not for her military career or personal shame she endured for a
vehicle. I was more interested in how a person could feel so defective inadequate, insignificant, and unbefitting to make so many poor decisions over and over. I made it a point to advise people of the dangers involved with sham marriages.