suspected that the chemical burns were to destroy DNA evidence of a rape.

I believe that someday the truth about LaVena’s death will come out. If not from the military, then from someone who saw something, and finally decides to do the right thing by speaking up. But this is not just LaVena's family’s burden. As taxpayers, our dollars support the military whether we like it or not. We, too, have a duty to hold our government and its military accountable for what it does to human beings, whether they are U.S. citizens or the citizens of other countries.

Military leaders have promised in recent months that they are taking sexual assault seriously and doing everything they can to combat it. But haven't they been saying the same thing for two decades?

Wouldn't the best way to start taking sexual assault seriously be to finally bring justice to LaVena Johnson and her family and bring the truth about her death to light? I can't think of a more powerful act to signal real change taking place for women in combat than ending this unspoken code of silence.

Tell President Obama to bring justice to LaVena Johnson, and peace to her family. Please sign the petition here.