Authors: Susan I. Spieth
“Jan,” he said using her first name
for the first time, “Most people won’t believe he’s a rapist.
At best, most will think that he lost
self-control for a moment, something that could happen to any of us.
At worst, they will believe you seduced
him and now you’re blaming him for refusing your advances.”
She stared at Dogety in
disbelief.
What would Cadet Trane believe?
What would SKIP think?
Would all her classmates turn against
her?
Those were risks she could
accept.
She didn’t want Jackson
getting away with this.
“If you
want to talk to him, go ahead.
But
either way, I’m going to make an official complaint as soon as I can.”
Jan went by Captain Spanner’s office
several times, but the H-3 Company TAC was out of the office all day.
By 1600 hours, Cadet Markus Jackson
filed an honor report accusing Jan Wishart of lying.
The B-1 Honor Representative conducted
an informal investigation the next day, May 4, 1982.
Cadet Trane, Company H-3 Honor
Representative, received the report at 2230 hours that evening.
The next morning, Wednesday, May 5, he
informed Jan that she would have to defend herself at an Honor
Board which
would begin the following day.
37
Saturday,
May 8, 1982
0200 Hours
Major Camden, the Officer in Charge, ordered one of the cadet guards to
find and turn on all the Mess Hall lights.
He told the other one to call the MP’s and an ambulance.
He made Jan and Kristi stay seated by the
upper door to the Poop Deck.
He
used a two-way radio to communicate with the Guard Office.
“The ambulance and MP’s are coming.
But I need you to go to the Supe’s house
right now and personally wake him up.
Tell him it’s an emergency.
He needs to get here ASAP.”
Then he looked at Jan, “
Who
else should we
notify besides your TAC?”
“Please get Cadet Dogety from H-3,” Jan said.
“And maybe someone from JAG.”
Jan marveled at how clearly she was
thinking.
She understood right away
what this would mean for both Kristi and her.
“Also, send some MP’s over to the
basement room under the Mess Hall, level B-4.
There’s a young woman tied up there.
She’s a witness.”
The Poop Deck soon erupted
in chaos.
The MP’s took pictures,
drew a chalk outline around the body, covered it with a sheet, and placed
markers at every blood spot.
The
Superintendent stood with his arms crossed, listening to a JAG officer.
Everyone seemed to ignore Jan and
Kristi, still sitting silently under the exit sign.
Captain Spanner, the H-3 TAC finally walked over to the two women.
“Miss Wishart, Miss McCarron,
are
both of you all
right?”
“Sir, I think Cadet McCarron is injured.”
“My wrist and ribs are sore, but I think I’m okay, Jan.”
“I’m going to send one of the medics over to look at you once they
finish over there,” Captain Spanner nodded toward the center of the Poop
Deck.
“But I need you both to
listen to me now.
This is very
important.”
He waited until
they looked at him directly.
“Do
not talk to anyone before you speak to the JAG officer, Major Quiddy.
Not the Supe.
Not the MP’s.
Not even me.
Once you’ve told Major Quiddy
everything, he will advise what to do next.
Be sure he reads your written statement
before you sign it. Do you both understand me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
About ten minutes later, a bleary-eyed Dogety came bursting up the
stairs.
He saw the crime scene with
the sheet-covered body.
“What the
hell happened?”
“Sir, he came after us.
He
attacked us,
”
Jan
said.
Dogety stood there for a moment as if in shock.
“Who came after you?”
“Cadet Trane, Sir.”
Sometime after 0400 hours, they were released to Captain Spanner who
ordered Cadet Dogety to escort them directly to their room.
Jan didn’t sleep at all, but Kristi
started snoring within minutes of hitting the rack.
Angel never woke up when they came in,
oblivious to the whole ordeal.
The next morning, the three roommates gave each other dress-offs,
before heading out to breakfast formation at 0620 hours.
At 0710, they were back in the formation
before classes.
Cadet Dogety walked
up to Jan and ordered her to follow him off to the side of the formation.
They were out of earshot from the
others, but he still stood only few inches in front on her.
Speaking barely above a whisper, he
said, “Miss Wishart, your Honor Board has been postponed until 1600 hours
today.
I’m attending a special
meeting of the honor committee this morning to discuss your case in light of
last night’s events.
The
Superintendent, the Commandant and just about every JAG officer are meeting
with the MP’s to discuss the evidence and statements. The Commandant has
ordered you and McCarron to remain in your quarters at all times, except for
classes, lunch and to use the latrine.
You cannot speak a word of this to anyone.
The family must be notified first.
Do you hear me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
She felt as if
she was in a trance.
She began to
understand the meaning of “out of body” or “beside yourself.”
For a moment, she could have sworn she
had been watching everything from above.
“I will do my best to be your advocate, but I cannot promise anything
good will come of this.
If you’re
lucky, they’ll just kick you out.
Worst case is a murder charge.
Do you understand everything I’ve said?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’m going to tell McCarron the same thing I told you.
Remember,
do
not speak to anyone about last night.
This comes directly from the Supe.
Finally, wait for me to come get you for the Honor Board.
I have to escort you there and
back.
No one wants you wandering
around, apparently.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I don’t know what else to say. You may have lost any hope of
survival.”
“I know, Sir, but thank you for your help.”
After her second morning class, she returned to her room for free
period.
Only it wasn’t exactly free
anymore.
Both Kristi and Angel had
classes until lunch.
She tried to
study for the physics exam but it was virtually impossible.
She felt some relief when a note flew in
under her door.
Dear
Jan,
What
happened?
I was ready to testify
today but was told the Honor Board is on hold.
I’ve heard some rumors, but I don’t want
to speculate.
Can you enlighten
me?
I’m dying to know the real
story.
I’m
actually looking forward to telling my story.
I had heard Dogety and Jackson were
screwing with you Sunday night and it really pissed me off, so I followed you
to B-1.
When you left the envelope
at Jackson’s door, I took it.
I
pulled out their notes and put my note in its place.
I
thought that would put an end to the harassing, but it only made it worse for
you.
Much worse.
So it’s really all my fault you were in this
mess.
That’s why I am so eager to
be a witness at your Honor Board.
I
want them to know I did it, and hopefully, they will drop the charges.
Now I’m concerned I may not get the
chance to testify.
I’ve been told
to wait until I’m called, but no one seems to know when that will be.
Please tell me all is going to be
okay.
I am anxious to hear from
you.
SKIP
She wrote a
response and taped it to her door.
Dear
SKIP,
I
cannot tell you why the board is on hold, only to say that it’s supposed to
resume at 1600 today.
I am so
thankful you are willing to testify for me.
And I’m glad to finally know how the
note was replaced.
I’m
not mad at you.
I’m happy you tried
to protect me.
And I’m sorry it
backfired.
Please
pray for me.
I think you have a
better line to the guy upstairs than I do, and if indeed, he (or she) can do
anything for me, now would be a good time.
The situation has gone from bad to horrendous and it doesn’t seem like
it’s going to get any better soon. So, a miracle would be a really nice thing
about now.
If
I never write again, it’s because I had to leave quickly.
I know how expulsions work—they don’t
let you hang around long.
I only
wish you would tell me who you are before I have to leave.
Even if I never find out your identity, I
will always be thankful for your friendship.
Jan
38
Saturday,
May 8, 1982
1545 Hours
Cadet Dogety arrived on time.
He didn’t say anything except, “Let’s
go, Miss Wishart.”
She didn’t ask
him any questions either.
They
hadn’t heard anything more from the Superintendent, the Commandant,
the
MP’s or even from Captain Spanner.
She gave Angel and Kristi a hug
before leaving the room.
“Hold any
notes for me that appear at the door.”
“I will,” Kristi replied.
They couldn’t say any more in front of
Angel, who was still oblivious to the previous night’s events.
Jan followed Cadet Dogety out the
door.
They passed fifty or so cadets on the
way to Mahan Hall.
Jan felt almost
all of them staring at her.
She
knew that at least some, maybe most, had heard about last night.
Despite the “do not talk” policy, cadets
talked.
They always knew when
something big happened, although they usually didn’t know the real story.
They probably heard something like, “the
female cadet who’s in the middle of an Honor Trial killed her Honor Representative
in Washington Hall last night.”
She made a conscious decision to
stand tall with her head up.
She
stared back at every face that seemed to accuse her.
She saw judgment in their eyes.
She reminded herself of the resolution
she had made at the beginning of second semester.
Their condemnation could not, would not,
penetrate her skin.
At least that’s
what she told herself.
They approached the huge, arched
doors to Mahan Hall.
Cadet Dogety
reached for the handle and held the door for her.
The gesture reminded her of Trane.
She stepped through the arch and
practically bumped into Rick Davidson.
“Jan, I’ll be waiting just outside
the room… and I’ll be praying the whole time,” he said.
“What?”
She stared at him wondering what he
meant.
“I don’t need you….
”
Why does he care…
.Oh
, dear God.
It’s him.
“It’s okay; I don’t mind waiting,”
Rick said.
Cadet Dogety interjected, “Go back to
the company, Davidson.
You’re not
going to be needed anymore.”
But Rick followed him anyway,
alongside Jan, in step—left, right, left—all the way up to the
fourth floor.
He waited outside
while Jan and Dogety entered the windowless room.
It looked like an entirely different
room.
Then she realized it was
because most of the honor “jury” was not there.
Only Cadets Conrad, Tourney, Leavitt,
Gaskins and Seymour were present.
Even the bookend officers and Major Hastings were absent.
The stenographer, however, was at her
post.
“Sit down, Miss Wishart,” Conrad
said.
She walked to her chair and
sat down with her back straight a few inches from the chair back, chest a few
inches from the table, legs at a ninety-degree angle from the knees, and eyes
straight ahead.
“We’ve spent
several hours deliberating the evidence in your honor case and also in
discussions with the Superintendent and the Commandant concerning the new
investigation involving you and Cadet McCarron.
We were not told what happened exactly,
but we have been informed that the MP’s, JAG and the press will be
involved.
We also know that these
events will not reflect favorably on West Point.”
Jan felt her eyes glisten.
Conrad continued.
“The Superintendent and Commandant
indicated that the evidence thus far
appears
to validate the statements given by those involved, but Cadet McCarron’s
actions, at least, may be under more serious investigation.”
Jan saw his lower lip tighten.
“I have no idea what you two have gotten
yourselves into, but it’s serious enough that both the Supe and the Comm felt
the need to intervene in these proceedings.”
Jan could tell he didn’t think the
Supe and Comm had any business involving
themselves
in
the cadet honor system.
Conrad felt
the Honor Code belonged only to cadets and he didn’t appreciate the higher-ups
getting involved.
“This Honor Board has been the most
irregular one in my entire cadet career.
I’ve seen a lot of strange situations, but this one takes the prize,
Miss Wishart.”
Isn’t
the saying supposed to be ‘takes the cake?’
“However, Cadet Davidson’s statement
explaining his role in the events of Sunday night validates your account.”
Conrad’s voice waned after the last
word.
He paused before
continuing, “Which means there is only the question of who’s telling the truth
about the events on Monday morning.”
I
am.
“Now,” he paused, “without any other
witnesses, and in light of whatever happened last night, we are in a unique
situation which demands a unique resolution.”
He waited another moment before
continuing.
“Normally, we would
continue the Honor Board with the facts of the case as they stand.
In light of these new circumstances,
however, and in consultation with the Superintendent and the Commandant,” she
thought she saw him roll his eyes slightly, “we have decided to take an
unprecedented action.”
Jan looked straight ahead, listening,
but not quite hearing.
The room
began to fill with fog.
I
am a stone.
“You need to know this was not a
unanimous decision.
Some on the
jury wanted to continue as planned.”
Conrad paused again, before picking up a piece of paper that was lying
on the table in front of him.
He began reading from the
document.
“After many hours of
deliberation, and in consultation with the Superintendent of the United States
Military Academy and the Commandant of Cadets, this Honor Board has determined
that the charges against Cadet Jan Wishart are insufficient in their merit,
inconclusive in their supporting evidence, and are not worthy of continuing the
Honor Trial at this time.”
Conrad
placed the paper back down on the table. “Do you have any questions, Cadet
Wishart?” he asked while still looking down.
She didn’t exactly compute what he
just read.
Was it an acquittal
then?
Was it a mistrial?
Was she free to go?
What just happened?
“No, Sir.”
“Okay, then there’s one more thing
you should know.
In addition to the
ongoing MP investigation into whatever,” he paused, “whatever happened last
night, there will also be a disciplinary hearing later this afternoon.
You and McCarron
will
likely
face
serious disciplinary action.
Cadets
Jackson, Dogety and Davidson may also
received
punishment for their roles last weekend.”
He seemed pleased to be able to share that news.
“You are dismissed.”
Sam Dogety stood up, but Jan stayed
seated.
She looked up at him.
“We’re done here, Miss Wishart.”
Rick Davidson stood up from his
position on the floor when the door to room 413 opened.
He looked straight at Jan but didn’t say
anything.
Her eyes widened, but she
made no comment either.
She simply
turned left.
Dogety followed behind
her toward the stairwell to the main arched doors.
“What happened?”
Rick asked from the last spot in the
procession.
Dogety turned his head and said, “All
charges have been dropped.”
“YAHOO!!” Rick shouted.
At the front of the line, Jan began
to cry.