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U.S. Troops Charged After Fellow GI, Hazing Victim Danny Chen Found Dead in Afghanistan
Democracy Now! / Video Report
Published: Monday 26 December 2011
Racial hazing in the US Army has sparked demand for an investigation after Army Private Danny Chen was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound in Afghanistan.
The family of 19-year-old Danny Chen demanded an investigation after the Army Private was found dead in Afghanistan of what military authorities say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Chen's family says before his death he described how he was subjected to racist hazing, with soldiers throwing rocks at him and calling him ethnic slurs. Now the Army has charged eight soldiers involved in his death with crimes ranging from dereliction of duty to manslaughter. "I remember back in elementary school, he would get these rewards for being class clown and I would be jealous of him," says Danny's first cousin, Banny Chen. "We still don't know if [his death] was suicide or if someone else pulled the trigger." Earlier this year, another Chinese-American soldier, Harry Lew, a Marine from California, apparently killed himself in Afghanistan after he was also subjected to brutal hazing by his fellow Marines. "The community wants to have input in terms of [the military's] training, in terms of recruitment," says New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, who helped Chin's family to obtain a meeting with the Pentagon. "They already started screening out people with criminal records or gang affiliation. They should also look at how to screen out people who have these hatred and racial discrimination tendencies."
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6 comments on "U.S. Troops Charged After Fellow GI, Hazing Victim Danny Chen Found Dead in Afghanistan"
December 26, 2011 8:03pm
Now, now, let's be frank for sure - wait till all of those openly gay soldiers become punching bags or victims of friendly fire - I still believe that "don't ask, don't tell" was good for something - morale, and for keeping undesirable morals out of the morass of war!
December 26, 2011 6:50pm
I wish I had the power to reassign each of the hazers to a group in which they were the minority. It takes a real man to admit they were wrong, and to decide for themselves that their parents teachings were also just as wrong. But, if we had a military force that knew how to think for themselves when they signed up, half of them wouldn't be there. I'm a veteran, honorably discharged, and I know just how it goes. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but in the 16 weeks that the military spends teaching you how to stay alive, the ability to teach a soldier that Mom and Pop were wrong is highly unlikely. The fact that we have someone's son dead and gone as a result of hazing is evidence enough for me to determine that these SOLDIERS have entirely too much time on their hands. If they were doing what they were trained to do, there would be much more cohesion to the unit. It's time to end the corporate chicanery and bring our sons and daughters home again.
December 26, 2011 6:23pm
The enemies within, are worse.When I was serving in the military, a few female soldiers, who was jealous of me, a few females planned to throw a Blanket Party for me. Blanket Party means, they kidnap you from your room or wherever you are, and they throw a blanket over your head/body, and the females all take their turn punching you in all parts of your body. Another female among that female group informed me of what was going to take place and I reported along with the female who told me, we told our Supervisors and the Blanket Party did not take place.I read somewhere that wars makes beast out of men, and perhaps women too.Danny Chen because of EVIL Hatred from those who caused his death, died at the minds/hands of EVIL DEVILS. Danny and the likes of when dying from the Evil coming from others, Danny Autopsy report should not leave out the Trigger that caused Danny...and the likes of, should not leave out the trigger call EVIL, EVIL which is anti-nature, anti-Life, anti-real truth/reality, workers of EVIL iniquities, MONSTERS/BEAST. Just like all the wars. How do people die in these wars? The Trigger call EVIL causes the death.Why is it so hard for people to call a spade a spade? EVIL, EVIL, EVIL, the cause of killing, stealing, and destroying. What are the attributes of EVIL? Danny Chen death is proof of EVIL actions.
December 26, 2011 5:42pm
I just can't stomach to read what happened to Danny Chen. I feel deeply for his family at such a lost and feel so ashamed that he suffered needlessly and brutally by those serving in the military. Hopefully, this will be the end of such hazing in the military as they hold to account those who were involved with Danny's death. My prayers are with Danny's family and friends. Pat Hogan
December 26, 2011 4:54pm
If you think this guy committed suicide, contact me re the bridge I have for sale. Nothing like the superiority of a bunch of white guys - especially in gangs.
All probably came from good Christian families, too...with so so so many people to look down on.
Barbara Lochner
December 26, 2011 4:37pm
With a military confrontation with China in the works, reducing the number of servicepersons of Chinese descent would comfort the paranoias of the generals and politicians. This is probably more a pentagon policy than an isolated incident.