European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Nightmare of spouse abuse  v. ? army nuns Donns Patterson by Janet d Agostino medical writer Onna Patterson s most noticeable scar runs from her left wrist to the Lefcow a raised discoloured line that has a deeper Hue than the scars marring her upper aim and the two thai Mark the Iron of her neck. The scar on her leg is hidden by clothing. They arc souvenirs of the night her sex husband attacked her with a knife striking her so unexpectedly thai she did t realize what was happening until Hood Lowed on her Green dress. The attack was the bloody Climax of seven years of beatings Patterson endured while married arid two years of badgering Nile her divorce. But in was not the end of her sex husband s obsession. Unlike Many abused spouses Patterson now 36, helped herself by gelling out of a harmful marriage. But like a i Wist in the ending of some nightmarish movie thai was not enough to end the harassment. Even after the stabbing her sex husband disrupted her Lite by writing from behind prison Wahs to her commanders and attempting to sue her from various Stales. Patterson a registered nurse army major and until june chief of Central material Supply Section at Iho Frankfurt Aimy regional medical Center wonders if Iho Nightmare is Over. Her sex husband was paroled aug. 6irom a Teder a prison in Danbury Conn Afler having served Aboul seven years of a 12-year sentence Tor assault with Inlet to murder. According la people who work with abused spouses the Pursuit of Patterson by her in husband is not unusual. In last Iho fear of being pursued slops Many women Iron Taa ing an abusive relationship. An abuser s threats such As if you leave me i la Cut up your face or it you leave me i la break the windows n your parents House Are not Idle said Nancie Hamroll a therapist with the Domestic abuse project in Minneapolis that is Why the location and Telephone numbers at shelters Tor abused spouses Are Kepi As Anonymous As possible said Anne Walton the Public policy coordinator Lor the association of Junior leagues in new York the courts can Issue Protection and restraining orders to help protect women but the piece of paper does not come with a policeman to protect her Dalton said. Women have tried to hide by moving to different areas of their communities of moving to another state. Some have tried changing their identities. But it is difficult to evade an abuser who is intent on finding his victim. Hamlet said she counselled a woman who moved across the country to escape her husband but the husband hired a detective to Imd her. Patterson said she did t know How her sex husband was Able to keep track of each of her duty assignments even from prison these men Aie abusive they have a victim and they assert their Power Over and Over unlit hey find another victim said a woman who works at the National coalition against Domestic violence in Washington  the woman asked to remain Anonymous because she is a Farmer victim of spouse abuse. Patterson s sex husband attacked her during one of his regular visits to see their children a Day alter she had had dinner with another Man. They did not have a where to seek help victims of spouse abuse can sek help from if veral sources i their military communities. Medical treatment facilities social workers military chaplain and Mutafy police can All help an Ebu aed pout a i Ait Attane. Treatment of plot Sellon. Shelter and Youni along for abused spouses must a provided by from place to place said Darren in Snell program Songer for the army Community service. M but Bura Weet of Musiy. Tor turn pie abused spouses an Aulala by the family advocacy Casa management Taam located at tha army Hosp Tel in Junta org. Tia of am Consetti of medical pan Onnal to beat physical in Unes Cha Palm to provide in ritual and Metto nol support arid social Wor Cert log Jve  . The army Community a to Etc can provide in Melete Aman Jancy services Suchos Shotaro clothing or d1hr needs he family of the abused Sporaa May have. Sau Sharon Bette. Usa heur  program manager Long Lent counselling a sold la available through Dinar agencies such As social air Force Community me moors who need hat Mancall tha nearest air fore mental heat tit clinic and ask Tot the Tandy advocacy officer or lha family advocacy outreach worker said maj. Karl to chief of lha behavioural a Clenca stanch in a off Ca Oltha Usa it command burgeon. Army and Navy people can in teen. Help Horn Theair fore and in turn tha army provides services for All branches. Once an abused spouse Haa sought help the first concern for professionals is to protect the spouse fro further but. Mee Uto. The attn or in a taken out of the Home and placed in temporary housing on base off the abused spouse and any children by the family can be placed to a shelter. Some commune Tea sat aside military quarters Loru a a a shofar or contract rooms through German the Type  the abused spouse Andin abuser receive depends on the cause o tha conflict. Davis Sejd. Violence in a marriage is most often caused by fief Metal Almema chm rearing or Felm of alcohol or drugs she said. Forms of treatment include marital counselling or engr  where spouses in milled in Bushro nation ships Leam of affective Waya of dealing wifi anger. Parentin education class and budget counselling Are porn Goej through acs Devla Salt commanders must be notified h  i found to be abusing a other spouse Daurta Sakl tha commander can order a reluctant  to undergo Traa tenant Lor spouse abuse. Veiby military Community Etsu Kave a we Public iad number when Abunad so am in cell or help. Ii to Nina does net Tow of Reper Tki a Umfer they can Call lha acs 01 the Fanelly service organization in a Force or Navy communities. An abuse spouse who is in immediate Dent Eft duty Houra cum a military port or hip. . Monday september 19, 19bb disagreement or a night Hal Day. She said. Her sex husband simply walked Inlo the Kitchen came Back Oul with a knife and started stabbing. I did l see the knife and i did t know that he was cutting new initially. I remember i had on this dress and this jacket and in was Green and i remember seeing blood and seeing it torn. I said my god. What Are you doing the whole Lime he was attacking me he never said  Patterson attempted to flee up Iho stairs but she was caught and pulled Down by her hair. She managed to break ires and ran to a neighbor s Home. Patterson s sex husband Tell in his car and Patterson was rushed to the Hospital where she worked As an operating room nurse. Research indicates thai the Only Way to Stop a Man who uses violence is to put him in jail said stove Everett the founder of men overcoming violence a self help group in Chicago. But thai does not always end the abuse said Ever Cut who founded the group in 1979 because a used violence As a form of abuse it will continue until the individual is forced to Stop or until he comes to some awareness about his own behaviour he said. The facts suggest that Patterson s sex husband has not been slopped nor found much awareness. With every change of duty station Patterson has had to explain to her commanders the tellers they have received claiming she was unfit to serve in the military. Military officials she said have supported her to Dale. She also has spent considerable Lime and Money defending Erseil against the various civil suits filed against her by her sex husband. Court document show Hal in 1985, he tiled a suit in a . District court in Albany. N.y., asking for $60,000 in damages claiming Patterson look personal property from him. In a . District court in Kentucky he tiled a suit asking for $150,000. A document irom the Treasury department shows he prompted an investigation against her from March 1983 to january 1933, claiming she cashed his tax return checks. Tha 5th . Circuit court of appeals in Texas warned her sex husband in a court document that it he continued to file no Eriless complaints the courthouse doors would be closed to him Patterson said she has coped with the harassment by focusing on her children and her work and advancing her education. Now her goal is to earn a doctorate and help other battered wives. Pm not the Only one out there and i m not tha worst one by any Means. I be got More support systems going Lor me than a lot of women who have  Patterson is hoping thai time and distance Ujj keep her form of spouse from pursuing her Patterson Tell Eis Ope in june win spend the summer finish Rig coursework at the Uto verily of South California and will then go to her next assignment. I am hoping with some time he will gel on with his own Lite. But i win still be looking Over my shoulder and  the stars and stripes Page 13