Asian-American soldier was pelted with rocks before he killed himself

[hidan25]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ted-rocks.html

The parents of a New York City Army private who committed suicide in Afghanistan have been told distressing new details of the racial bullying and mistreatment their son endured at the hands of his comrades.

A spokeswoman for Chen’s parents said investigators told them that on the day of his death, he was forced to crawl 100 metres on gravel with his equipment on as fellow GIs threw rocks at him.

Speaking through an interpreter, his mother said her 19-year-old son was called 'dragon lady' and derogatory phrases.

Soldiers made him give orders in Chinese while they mocked him. He was also forced to do multiple push-ups and sprints.
Distraught: The family of dead soldier Danny Chen reveal grim new details of their son's racial bullying at the hands of his fellow GIs

Distraught: The family of dead soldier Danny Chen reveal grim new details of their son's racial bullying at the hands of his fellow GIs

Private Danny Chen, who grew up in New York's Chinatown area, was found dead in a guard tower at Combat Outpost Palace on October 3 after apparently committing suicide.

Eight U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been charged in connection with multiple counts of negligent homicide, assault and involuntary manslaughter.

Chen’s parents met with Army officials at the Fort Hamilton base in Brooklyn, where Army officers released the results of their investigation.

They later held a news conference where they revealed the distressing new details.

On the day of his death, Chen was forced to crawl on gravel while soldiers threw rocks at him.


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Death: Private Danny Chen, 19, of New York, was found dead in a guard tower at Combat Outpost Palace on October 3 after apparently committing suicide

Death: Private Danny Chen, 19, of New York, was found dead in a guard tower at Combat Outpost Palace on October 3 after apparently committing suicide
In action: Sergeant Travis F. Carden was one of eight soldiers charged

In action: Sergeant Travis F. Carden was one of eight soldiers charged

He was separately taunted and mocked, all because he was the only Chinese-American in his unit, said Elizabeth OuYang, a spokeswoman for the family.

'Almost immediately after he arrived, Danny was required to do exercises, which quickly, within a few days, crossed over into abuse,' she said.

The alleged anti-Asian bullying and taunting started during basic training when fellow soldiers used a mocking accent while calling him Jackie Chen; others allegedly told him to 'go back to China'.

On September 27, OuYang said a sergeant dragged Chen out of bed and over gravel, which left him with shoulder bruises and cuts on his back. The top two leaders of the platoon knew about this, she said, but chose not to report it.



Justice: The family of Danny Chen who is believed to have commited suicide after alleged abuse by eight American soldiers are determined to see justice done

Justice: The family of Danny Chen who is believed to have commited suicide after alleged abuse by eight American soldiers are determined to see justice done

His mother, who wept throughout the conference, told reporters that the pain of her only son's death still has not subsided.

His father urged that the trial of eight fellow soldiers, for an array of counts from dereliction of duty to negligent homicide, should be held in the United States, not in Afghanistan.

'The family has been through absolute hell,' OuYang added. 'They must have the right to face those who are found guilty.'

The family also is awaiting answers from 25 questions they asked the Army, they said, which promised a response by January 13.

Investigations continue into Chen's death. It is now no longer clear whether Private Chen, who was from the Chinatown area of Manhattan did in fact take his own life.

Hundreds of supporters held a vigil recently after demanding officials address the treatment of Asians in the military, reported MSNBC.

His cousin Banny Chen read out a letter sent by Private Chen in February at the vigil last Thursday, which said: ‘Everyone knows me by Chen’.
Sadness: A portrait of U.S. Army Private Danny Chen is displayed during his funeral procession in New York on October 13 after his death in Afghanistan

Sadness: A portrait of U.S. Army Private Danny Chen is displayed during his funeral procession in New York on October 13 after his death in Afghanistan

Grieving: The casket of Private Danny Chen is carried by an honour guard during a funeral procession in New York two months ago

Grieving: The casket of Private Danny Chen is carried by an honour guard during a funeral procession in New York two months ago
Watch: Private Chen was found dead in October in a guard tower in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province (file picture)

Watch: Private Chen was found dead in October in a guard tower in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province (file picture)

‘They ask if I'm from China a few times a day,’ he wrote. ‘They also call out my name Chen in a goat-like voice sometimes for no reason.

'They ask if I'm from China a few times a day. They also call out my name Chen in a goat-like voice sometimes for no reason'

Danny Chen (Feb 2011)

‘People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time. I'm running out of jokes to come back at them.’

Around 400 people were at the vigil and march in Manhattan as Occupy Wall Street protesters also got involved.

Asian Pacific Americans civil rights group OCA has expressed outrage at what happened and have their own theory on why he was allegedly abused.
Conference: The OCA's Elizabeth OuYang speaks in New York on Wednesday while Private Chen's parents, Yan Tao Chen, left, and Su Zhen Chen, right, listen

Conference: The OCA's Elizabeth OuYang speaks in New York on Wednesday while Private Chen's parents, Yan Tao Chen, left, and Su Zhen Chen, right, listen
Remembered: Danny Chen is pictured with his family in an emotional video which features his friends and relatives asking: 'What happened to Danny?'

Remembered: Danny Chen is pictured with his family in an emotional video which features his friends and relatives asking: 'What happened to Danny?'
Answers: Hundreds of supporters held a vigil last week after demanding officials address the treatment of Asians in the military

Answers: Hundreds of supporters held a vigil last week after demanding officials address the treatment of Asians in the military

‘They did it because they knew that there was an environment that they would get away with it,’ an OCA spokesman said, reported NBC New York.
FAMILY ENCOURAGED

Relatives of Private Chen said they are encouraged to learn of the charges brought.

His father Yen Tao Chen said the family realises he will never return, but the news 'gives us some hope'.

First Lieutenant Daniel J. Schwartz, Staff Sergeant Blaine G. Dugas and Staff Sergeant Andrew J. Van Bockel were all charged.

Sergeant Adam M. Holcomb, Sergeant Jeffrey T. Hurst, Specialist Thomas P. Curtis, Specialist Ryan J. Offutt and Sergeant Travis F. Carden were also charged.

All eight soldiers are of 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

[whackj75]

TL;only read first bit

American army gettin there moenys worth outta the PR dept.

[fofm]

Sorry I don't feel sorry for kids who kill themselves, especially guys. It's pathetic either way, but at least girls have are known to be more emotional at the biological level, so I guess it gives them a pass? But either way, it's selfish and a cowardly act.

MAN THE **** UP... jesus christ. It's new generation of kids... men are pussies these days. My dad was working when he was 7 years old to support his siblings and parents, but this mother****er can't handle a little teasing? ROFL gimmie a break. I feel for his family though....

THAT BEING SAID, I hope the eight dudes get charged and spend at least 7 years in jail. THIS IS YOUR MOTHER****IN brother in the army man... you guys are suppose to be close and have each others back. WTF is with this racism ****...

[freshmanik]

Sorry I don't feel sorry for kids who kill themselves, especially guys. It's pathetic either way, but at least girls have are known to be more emotional at the biological level, so I guess it gives them a pass? But either way, it's selfish and a cowardly act.

MAN THE **** UP... jesus christ. It's new generation of kids... men are pussies these days. My dad was working when he was 7 years old to support his siblings and parents, but this mother****er can't handle a little teasing? ROFL gimmie a break. I feel for his family though....

THAT BEING SAID, I hope the eight dudes get charged and spend at least 7 years in jail. THIS IS YOUR MOTHER****IN brother in the army man... you guys are suppose to be close and have each others back. WTF is with this racism ****...

this guy was in the military you ****ing idiot
that takes balls
you don't know what mental pressure they are going through there and plus having racist comrades
its tough

[BraddlesMcGee]

OP managed to paste more text than is contained in the article!

[waitwat]

Sorry I don't feel sorry for kids who kill themselves, especially guys. It's pathetic either way, but at least girls have are known to be more emotional at the biological level, so I guess it gives them a pass? But either way, it's selfish and a cowardly act.

MAN THE **** UP... jesus christ. It's new generation of kids... men are pussies these days. My dad was working when he was 7 years old to support his siblings and parents, but this mother****er can't handle a little teasing? ROFL gimmie a break. I feel for his family though....

THAT BEING SAID, I hope the eight dudes get charged and spend at least 7 years in jail. THIS IS YOUR MOTHER****IN brother in the army man... you guys are suppose to be close and have each others back. WTF is with this racism ****...

how the fuk do you man up when its 8 people fukin with you doing literally what ever they want to you every day and they get away with it
there is nothing you can do

i know it said suicide but how did he kill himself? they probably killed him and said it was suicide

[fofm]

Also, why are people in the military so special and put on the pedestal? Sadly, I can honestly say that I'm not one bit surprised by the racism that exists in the military. ROFL contrary to popular belief, everyone in the military is not honest, righteous, august, and have high morals. Nearly everyone who joined the military after high school were idiots/dumbasses who ****ed up in high school, rednecks "America fuk yeah!", who didn't know what to do with their lives and were routinely disrespectful to the teachers.

So do I expect better behavior by people in the military? No, I don't.

THAT BEING said, I know so many ROTC guys and they are very respectful and it's obvious they were raised the right way and know their manners.

[BraddlesMcGee]

[FP7]

Feed the douches that did this to the Taliban, the last thing I would want, and most soldiers is immature little fukks like these idiots out on the battlefield with them.

[dvdrestrep]

They should do life in prison at the very least

[Limitedsource22]

This makes me RAGE!!!!

[KingVegeta]

this story made me rage hard fuk'n white people being racist *******s make me sick.

[mdmass06]

thats fukked up man

[portman616]

disgusting...

[MyAvatar]

this story made me rage hard fuk'n white people being racist *******s make me sick.

were all the soldiers even white?
they coulda been a mix of black,white,hispanic, which would just show that whiteness does not make ppl more racist bra

[Lowkeii]

damn, that's a sad article. What's wrong with these kinds of people? These guys are in military, representing their country and yet behaving like 4th graders.

[Limitedsource22]

this story made me rage hard fuk'n white people being racist *******s make me sick.

this

[KingVegeta]

were all the soldiers even white?
they coulda been a mix of black,white,hispanic, which would just show that whiteness does not make ppl more racist bra

how much do you want to bet they were white? racism is in their blood just look at this place.

[HouseOfISRAEL]

not surprised

this is america

seriously, the bottom 10% of our high school class makes up the military enlisted, no offense.

[MyAvatar]

how much do you want to bet they were white? racism is in their blood just look at this place.

lol
I'm not gonna bet on it. An overwhelming amount of the army is made up of ethnic-minorities, and I can see others joining in on the Asian hate-fest.

[CaptAmerica22]

Man, this is so fked up...

wtf is this? its fking 2012 for god's sake.

[CaptAmerica22]

lol
I'm not gonna bet on it. An overwhelming amount of the army is made up of ethnic-minorities, and I can see others joining in on the Asian hate-fest.

you're a *******.

btw, I know you scam people writing essays, just so you know. there's some sketchy rumors about you, you *******.

[BrahTech]

U.S military not making the press in good ways lately ayh, so many things coming out of late.

[MyAvatar]

you're a *******.

btw, I know you scam people writing essays, just so you know. there's some sketchy rumors about you, you *******.

scam ppl? alright.

[Here2Improve]

were all the soldiers even white?
they coulda been a mix of black,white,hispanic, which would just show that whiteness does not make ppl more racist bra

I personally don't see any other ethnicity doing such a thing s they themselves have most likely been in the same position or there ancestors.

Most likely were whites, no hate.

[KingVegeta]

lol
I'm not gonna bet on it. An overwhelming amount of the army is made up of ethnic-minorities, and I can see others joining in on the Asian hate-fest.

white people take racism and bullying to a whole new level I'm sure they were white its not like whites mocking and hating other races is something new.

[MyAvatar]

I personally don't see any other ethnicity doing such a thing s they themselves have most likely been in the same position or there ancestors.

Most likely were whites, no hate.

yeah yeah statistically speaking in terms of racial hate crimes within an american context.

[MyAvatar]

white people take racism and bullying to a whole new level I'm sure they were white its not like whites mocking and hating other races is something new.

I'm not denying the crazy hate crimes we see, but I am not one for antagonizing an entire group of people. I am Muslim, so I already know what its like to be demonized, and it phucking sucks.

[MyAvatar]

We don't fight for White In A Suit Invading Brown Nations.

all those dudes were white.

Sauce?

[KingVegeta]

I'm not denying the crazy hate crimes we see, but I am not one for antagonizing an entire group of people. I am Muslim, so I already know what its like to be demonized, and it phucking sucks.

why not point the finger at white people maybe they will finally learn not to be so hateful so the next Asian solider serving his country is not tormented to death?
they mock and scrutinize every race they have their own problems they need to fix.