LCpl. Maria Lauterbach

When an individual joins the military, it can be expected that they will probably be sent to war and there is a chance that they will not make it home. It's tragic and it's heart wrenching and we may think our loved ones are invincible, but when it comes down to it, we know it's a fact.

What we don't expect is that they will be murdered.

Maria Lauterbach was 20 years old and 8 months pregnant. She did not deserve to be raped--no one does--and she reported it, but nothing was done. Rather than a Marine Corps Corporal who is undeserving of both his rank and the title of United States Marine being punished, they were simply moved to separate buildings. Six months later, their command officially reported him. He had been allowed to act as if nothing had ever happened for six months.

She had to see him. She had to work with him. And all the while, she was pregnant. I cannot fathom how she felt.

In the beginning of December, when she was 8 months pregnant, she met with prosecutors for the first time. Less than two weeks later, he murdered her and burned her and her unborn baby in his back yard.

I don't have words to say how this makes me feel. I heard of it all week, and thought it was tragic, but I didn't truly look into it until yesterday morning. It was then that I read the poor female Marine's name for the first time when it truly sank in.

Maria was in my platoon in boot camp. We were not close friends, but I do remember her. And my heart breaks for her family.

I will be the first to say--as horrible as it may sound--than I am wary of 99% of supposed "rapes" but when even one is treated as anything less than reality, we now see the results of what can happen.

Maria was a United States Marine. I know what Maria went through to get to that point, as everyone in my platoon did, and she definitely earned her title. Maria was raped. Maria was 8 months pregnant and had not aborted the baby, which I'm assuming was the result of her rape.

Please pray for her family. She has parents and at least one sister who will miss her dearly. Also, I'm sure her fellow Marines and those individuals in her unit are having an extremely difficult time right now. I know I was very shaken and I cannot imagine what they are going through.