Eight U.S. Army soldiers are facing charges including involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide, assault, dereliction of duty, reckless endangerment, communicating a threat, maltreatment and making a false officials statement after having allegedly bullied and hazed another soldier until he was driven to suicide, according to reports published in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Pvt. Danny Chen
Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, born and raised in Lower Manhattan, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Although based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the division is serving in the Kandahar province in Afghanistan.
Chen found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a guard tower on Oct. 3.
Although military officials are not discussing details of the investigation or the charges, Chinese community activist Elizabeth OuYang, president of the New York chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans, said that according to information gleaned from emails, Facebook posts, discussions with cousins and pages of Chen’s journal that have been released by the Army, Chen faced incessant bullying based on his ethnicity.
OuYang said Chen’s fellow soldiers dragged him across the floor, threw rocks at the back of his head and mocked him by calling him “Jackie Chen” — a reference to Chinese martial arts star Jackie Chen — in a bad Chinese accent. OuYang also said that once after Chen left the water heater on after showering, the other soldiers forced him to hold liquid in his mouth while hanging upside down.
Five of the eight soldiers charged in connection with Chen’s death are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and assault consummated by battery, as well as other charges. Those five are Staff Sgt. Andrew J. Van Bockel, Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb, Sgt. Jeffrey T. Hurst, Specialist Thomas P. Curtis and Specialist Ryan J. Offutt.
Sgt. Travis F. Carden was charged with assault and maltreatment, Staff Sgt. Blaine G. Dugas was charged with dereliction of duty and making a false statement. The only officer facing charges, Lt. Daniel J. Schwartz, was charged with dereliction of duty.
I know that the bullying and hazing directed at Chen was reportedly based on his Chinese ethnicity, with no mention made of anything related to his sexual orientation, But bullying is bullying, no matter what the bullying is based on, and bullying kills. This story also makes me think of those folks who say that bullied children and teens just need to grow a set and get over it. But if a trained soldier stationed in Afghanistan can be bullied into suicide, what chance does a lonely kid questioning his or her sexual orientation or gender identity have against those who think might makes right?
Excellent story Tammye. Alone, they don’t have a chance but someone has to stand up and not allow these kinda things to happen. I know what it feels like to be a bystander and watch innocent people being tortured. Those kinda memories haunt you just like being victimized at school/work.
This is horrendous-if we are having civil wars amongst ourselves-how do we expect to win wars against other countries- if nothing is going to be done I suggest all Asians not volunteer to support our country as a career move since Asian bullying is part of the US military training-what a waste of an extra person on the team. It’s too bad-my husband left as Lt Commander US Navy and he did not have to undergo such indescribable experience.
THIS MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH…I KNOW GOD WILL BRING JUSTICE TO THESE MEN…AND COMFORT TO HIS FAMILY….AMEN
What the HELL?! It’s stories like this that makes me wonder who the bad guys REALLY are sometimes…
So close to the holidays as well…
I know justice will be served, but I pray for those who hazed, as well as for the family.
May their hearts be heavy with grief.
Man that is bad. You would think being over there would be stressful enough, a young man serving his counttry shouldn’t have to go hrough this kind of stuff. I hope they throw the book at them, especially staff NCO’s and Officers. Not worthy of the rank.
Is this what you get for serving this country now? My son is in the Army,in afganistan, and we talk to him, he tells us que the sergeants there make fun of him,and they put a lot of pressure on him at work;my son is only twenty years old, very young and inexprienced in life, so this type of enviroment depresses him, makes him upset, I hope sombody does something about it.
So many of these sorts of stories go un-reported or under-reported. Sadly, I think it happens far more often that we would like to think. It seems like what goes on in Iraq stays in Iraq.
Just another fine example of what the Bush Republicans have done to our country – in this case, through the use of “moral waivers” to allow the lowest of low-lifes to serve in the military. Now, it’s just another criminal gang – like the Cryps, the Bloods or La Cosa Nostra.
Wow, most of you are just as ignorant as any racist out there. I am Asian and have served eight years in combat arms. Yes, there is some racism, as there is everywhere else, from university campuses to corporate offices. The army does a far better job controlling it than most. Everyone in a line unit gets pushed, that’s what you get for working in an alpha male environment. Only the weak take the cowards way out. Weakness and failure to pay attention to detail pisses me off. It makes all asians look like victims that can’t fend for themselves. I’ve done eight years and most of my peers and superiors recognize me as being a top class NCO. Man up and do what I did and go out and get the highest pt scores, rifle qualification and win some soldier or NCO of the Quarter boards. Don’t be a weakling that just takes it, never seeks to improve and eventually takes a cowards way out.
This makes me really sick, I tough we were the good guys
Theres alot of racism in the army……… 5 year combat veteran. Companies with minorites didnt experience it as much. But i was in a field artillery unit and they were all white and racist southerners. I was singled out all the time. they couldnt have made it more obvious because me and another black guy which was my only friend were always in trouble or put as examples. Fuck you white racist fuck made my last two years in the army a living hell and i coudnt do nothing to prove the were racist. My captain at the was speaking to my chief and called our sergeant major a nigger……….true story. think about it people who are racist are going to request or reenlist to get the duty station they want to avoid working with people the hate AKA minorities. So u have several people that can relate that bunch up and team up against the smaller crowd. I think all units should have even amount of colored people to avoid this issue. som units are straight up white racist hicks who were able to join. common sense people. i lived it and its reality.