Staff Sgt - 8 Us Soldiers Charged In Comrade's Death

(12-21) 10:14 PST New York (AP)

Eight U.S. military happen to be incurred inside death of any fellow GI who seem to authorities declare evidently chance himself with Afghanistan soon after appearing assaulted along with taunted with racial insults by simply his comrades.

Pvt. Danny Chen, a 19-year-old coming from New York's Chinatown neighborhood, appeared to be observed dead in a very defend system within Kandahar land Oct. 3 having exactly what the actual Army said was a good clear self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Elizabeth OuYang, chief executive in the New York chapter in the Organization of Chinese Americans, stated at the news conference Wednesday in Chinatown that Chen's many other troopers possessed pulled him or her over the floor, used stones with the again involving his / her head, made your pet to keep the liquid in his mouth while upside down as part of an clear hazing, plus referred to as him "Jackie Chen" in a mocking accent.

The Army mentioned Wednesday this tendencies troopers around his firm have been charged having offenses including dereliction of duty that will manslaughter.

At the actual reports conference, Chen's family members mentioned they were motivated with the charges.

"We find that Danny won't return, but it shows us many hope," said Yen Tao Chen, his or her father, communicating via a translator.

Community activists claimed that Army nonetheless have not fully spelled out that situation associated with Chen's death. They tend to be meeting with Pentagon authorities Jan. 4.

"We want to find out the main truth," U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said during the actual announcement conference. She added: "Racial discrimination and intolerance posess zero spot throughout the modern military."

The Army introduced previous it is investigating Chen's death.

Chen ended up being given towards finally Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, established inside Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

In a statement, the actual Army diagnosed the defense force charged seeing that 1st Lt. Daniel J. Schwartz, Staff Sgt . Blaine G. Dugas, Staff Sgt . Andrew J. Van Bockel, Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb, Sgt. Jeffrey T. Hurst, Spc. Thomas P. Curtis, Spc. Ryan J. Offutt along with Sgt. Travis F. Carden. Their hometowns are not promptly released.

VanBockel, Holcomb, Hurst, Curtis and Offutt were costed with probably the most serious offenses, such as involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide, plus harm plus battery.

Schwartz, the only real official on the list of accused, by using priced having dereliction of duty.