The Washington Post reported that eight U.S. soldiers have been charged with crimes related to the October 3 death of a fellow soldier who apparently committed suicide. This is the second Asian American military personnel in recent months who allegedly committed suicide after abusive treatment by fellow GIs. It appears that there were racial elements to the this recent incident. In the earlier incident, Kane’ohe Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Harry Lew also committed suicide after hazing by comrades. Several Marines face courts martial for their hazing of Lew. Chen’s death comes at a time when the U.S. military is facing an epidemic of suicides in the ranks:
Eight American soldiers deployed in Afghanistan have been charged in connection with the Oct. 3 death of a comrade who apparently committed suicide in a guard tower, U.S. military officials said Wednesday.
Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, an infantryman, died from an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” at a small combat outpost in Kandahar province, according to a statement issued by the NATO command in southern Afghanistan.
A military official told Chen’s parents that fellow soldiers had been physically abusive toward Chen, and taunted him with ethnic slurs, the New York Times reported in October.
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