Not another one of these... The Army's Criminal Investigation Division is reportedly examining the circumstances surrounding the non-combat-related death of 19-year-old Private Danny Chen, a New York City native who died in Afghanistan last week: City GI death probe.According to a report in the Sing Tao Daily, Chen was allegedly subjected to "racially charged bullying," harassment and physical abuse before he was found dead in his barracks last week. His parents were told that preliminary signs suggest that Chen killed himself:
Pvt. Danny Chen had been in Afghanistan for two months when he was found dead with a gunshot wound below his chin on Oct. 3. He was discovered in the living quarters of a forward operating base in the Kandahar province, said Christopher Grey, a spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Command.More here: Army Probes Events Behind Soldier Death. I know I'm not the only one who finds this eerily similar to the death of Marine Harry Lew earlier this year: More Military Abuse in Afghanistan, Another Suicide.
His parents, Yan Toa and Su Zhen Chen, were told that preliminary signs suggest Mr. Chen killed himself.
But family spokesman Frank Gee said the couple were also told by Army investigators that their only child had been subjected to taunting and violence at the hands of the soldiers with whom he served.
"Before he died he was harassed, and he was dragged out of the bed and actually beaten," Mr. Gee said. "The Army volunteered that information to the family."
This week in New York, by order of Governor Andrew Cuomo, flags will be flown at half-staff to honor Private Chen. He'll be buried at Kensico Cemetery in Westchester County on Saturday: Flags To Fly At Half-Staff To Honor Manhattan Man Killed In Afghanistan.