JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) hosts a noted survivor of sexual assault Tuesday, April 18, for two presentations as part of its Ready and Resilience program.
Monika Korra was a college sophomore on a track scholarship when her life changed. First, for the worst as a victim of rape and sexual assault. Later, as a survivor, speaker and author encouraging others to speak out and carry on with life.
“I took the control back,” Korra told ESPN in an April 2012 story. “I’m glad I did. I want to be a person that people can look at and say that it’s possible to move on.”
A native of Norway, Korra came to the United States to study and run at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In December 2009, near finals, she took a study break and went to an off-campus party with a friend. As the two headed back to their room, a white van stopped near them and someone yelled something toward them.
Not hearing what was said, Korra turned and felt something against her head. Someone else grabbed her and yanked her inside the van, beginning her nightmare.
Three men took turns sexually assaulting her inside the van as they drove around. When the assailants finished with her, they dumped her from the van in an empty field.
While on the way to the hospital, Korra said she decided not to let the attack define her or accept any responsibility to what had happened to her.
“I told myself that: ‘Just promise yourself to never, never blame yourself,’” she told ESPN.
To help herself heal, she did what came naturally – she ran. First on the treadmill for a few minutes a day, then outdoors. In addition, she documented her attack, everything she could remember, in a journal.
She would be instrumental in convicting her attackers for aggravated sexual assault. Two received life sentences and the other plea-bargained for 25 years in prison.
Korra, who spoke at the San Antonio Military Medical Center auditorium last April, is speaking at the recommendation of ARNORTH commanding general Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan.
Buchanan, who as commanding general of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington heard Korra speak, said her story can help the military and its service members to prevent sexual assault.
“My greatest hope is that the courage she (Korra) demonstrates every single day helps inspire you, to give you additional courage to do the kinds of things we need to do to prevent sexual assaults,” Buchanan said during Korra’s April 2014 appearance at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
Korra is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Fort Sam Houston Theater. Soldiers should check with their chain of command to see what presentation they are scheduled to attend.