One of my favorite quotations comes from the movie "Forest Gump " . That one " Life Is Like a box of choclates you never know what you will get . This certainly proved true for me this past Saturday October 17th . I was taking the train from downtown San Diego up to Orange County to celebrate my Mom,s 70th Birthday . It was a typical autumn morning In San Diego , with the marine layer and the temperature In the low 60s . When I boarded the train I was trying to find my usual window seat so I could take In the view of our coast while I read my paper and pounded down some coffee . In the process of trying to find my seat I happened upon a young woman who was trying to put her bag In the rack above . I offered my assistance and struck up a conversation with the attractive and gregarious young lady , as I am a natural chatterbox , not just here on Hubpages but In real life as well . And It was on this morning that I was Introduced and befriended a woman named Syleena Penland . Sy Is an aspiring poet which means she Is probably a natural for us here at Hubpages . And she was kind enough to share a couple of her poems with me and shared her IPOD to as we listened to Depeche Mode on our trip northward . I got absolutely no reading done and could care less about It . She asked me how many cups of coffee I had and I told her just one . I am just naturally high strung !

However It turns out that Ret . Lt. Commander Syleena Penland has a bigger story here then just a chance meeting on a train . I would like to share with you good people the story of this lovely woman and how she got an undeserved shaft from the US Navy !

My good friend Sy Penland arrived at the Naval coastal welfare group In Imperial Beach In early 2006 and being a good By the book officer ,and proud of her work Sy had noticed Immediately the abuses of her commands funds for construction and upgrades and that they also allowed civilians to manage military personnel which Is In violation of Federal Law and Defense Dept regulations .

And this pattern of abuses of yours and my Tax dollars was continuing well Into 2007 and most likely beyond . She kept seeing abuses and she kept asking questions . Sy Is what Is known as a whistle blower . And just like In the dirty world of politics , In the world of Military contracts people do not like to see their cheating brought to the light of day . And sure as the sun comes up the powers that be started playing hardball with her . NECC her command had plans for a multimillion dollar construction and renovation project for Outlying Landing Field here In San Diego . These were to be turned Into offices for NECC . The funds NECC were using were meant for supplemental war funding . Normally approval for this goes through Navy Installation Command . Also employees of Logistics Support Inc were allowed by NECC to supervise military personnel and to approve military contracts , another violation . She had complained of these violations to her command withno response . And then she sent a letter to Rep Bob Filner the congressman for San Diego . And all of a sudden shortly thereafter she got 1.0 on her fitness report ,even though she had a 4.33 on her previous fitness report.

And she was also sent a letter about her being late on deadlines as well as having run Ins with other personnel In her unit . All of this started In February of 2007 . And then on March 26 2007 she was accused of Adultery with a Lieutenant Jr grade . And also on that day she was ordered to mast . Days after turning down mast she requested a Inspector General Investigation Into abuses and reprisal . NECC Is supposed to respond within 180 days . She did not get a response and kicked It up to the Defense Dept . Insp General . On March 29th of 2007 she was put on temporary additional duty as well as being told that she would receive a General court martial for having an adulterous affair with Lt Jr grade Mark Wiggan . Both Sy and Lt Jr grade Mark Wiggan denied ever having an affair . Sy got the court martial Lt . Wiggan got a Navy commendation . Does something not stink here ? Her Commands case hinged on photos that showed neither the face of Sy Penland or Mark Wiggan . And still she was convicted .

Lt. Wiggan was offered Immunity to testify against Lt . Commander Penland, he turned It down and swore under oath that there was no affair. And also It Is Interesting that long after the writing of this particular hub the allegations that Lt Commander Penland brought forth which Included , civilians working on sensitive Navy projects , misusing war funds and contracts for personal services have all been substantiated after Investigation. And all Lt Commander Penland has for her doing her patriotic duty Is a court martial 8 months shy of her navy pension for 20 years of outstanding service . As well as a Nine thousand dollar fine and 60 days In the brig . I obtained this Information through the Navy Times , militarycorruption.com and Channel 10 news here In San Diego . I am sorry but this smells ! It Is another prime example to me of what happens when good honest people go up against the corrupt and powerful ! Anyway this Is a brief synopsis of the Injustice that was meted out to my friend just because she was doing the right thing .

       The stress has worn on Sy . She now has a blood disorder that Is being treated with chemotherapy drugs , all stress Induced ! Her Dad back In Georgia has pancreatic cancer .And she has the stigma of being a convicted felon when the crime that was committed was done by her superiors In her unit . And for all Intents and purposes the US Navy took away from her everything that was sacred to her first and foremost being the love of serving her country . And Sy took the responsibility of serving her country very seriously ! She was not cavalier about that responsibility at all ! I hate to dig up a can of worms here , but the whole case stinks of racism and sexism , and here Is why !

        Air Force chief JAG former Major General Thomas J Fiscus admitted having sex with 24 female officers and enlisteds and was given a fat pension and got his library card taken away as he was escorted out of the military ! Jill Metzger a attractive white officer It Is speculated by many on the In the know In military affairs faked her own abduction In Kyrgyzstan to cover herself going AWOL , disobeying a direct order , adultery , fraternazation and conduct unbecoming an officer . None of these charges were properly Investigated and no discipline was given to Metzger . Major Metzger was put on the temporary disabled retirement llist or TDRL as It Is known In military verbage, and recieved a lucrative 100% disability rating . And all the while running both the Marine Corp and Air Force marathons In 2008 . With a 100% disability ? Impressive . But this Is what happens when your Dad Is a Colonel and has friends among Air Force Brass ! I want to thank Militarycorruption.com for providing me with this Information , and I hope I have clearly articulated the reasoning behind my case !

      But hopefully this episode has not reached Its conclusion yet . There Is still litigation that Is to go on behalf of Sy and hopefully a resolution comes about that Is appropriate and just ! I think myself at the minimum she should recieve her full pension and the hell with the Navy !

         So I hope when I write my next hub on Sy Penland It Is with a plethora of good news and all of It benefitting her. As for myself this Is one of probably two hubs I have written here that are so not about me ! But It Is crazy what you run Into In life and I got to make a new friend who Is as lovely as the day Is long and a story I felt was Imperative that you good people here at Hubpages needed to know . Life Is Like a Box of Choclates right ?