Danny Chen
Have you heard about the tragic dead of the American Chinese Danny Chen (陈宇晖)?
RIP, Danny Chen! And we'll learn more about you now:
"Danny Chen (simplified Chinese: 陈宇晖; traditional Chinese: 陳宇暉[1]; pinyin: Chén Yǔhuī; May 26, 1992 - October 3, 2011) was a Chinese-American U.S. Army private who served in Afghanistan. Chen was harassed and beaten by his fellow soldiers before his death on October 3, 2011.[2] Chen was found shot to death in a guard tower in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. It was first thought that Chen may have committed suicide.[3] However, the Army has not fully explained the circumstances of Chen's death.[4]
Chen was born and raised in Chinatown, Manhattan in New York City,[5] where his father works as a chef and his mother as a seamstress.[6][5] Both his parents are immigrants from Taishan, a coastal city in Guangdong province, China.[7] He graduated from Pace University High School in Manhattan in 2010. He got a full scholarship offer to Baruch College in Manhattan. Chen joined the Army in January 2011, against his mother's wishes, and planned on returning to New York City to serve with the New York Police Department.[7] He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.[2]
Military investigators found that Chen was the target of ethnic slurs and physical attacks at the hands of his fellow soldiers before his death.[3][8] Chen had been physically and verbally abused by his superiors who singled him out for being Chinese-American, on a daily basis for 6 weeks.[7][9][10]
Chen was buried on October 13, 2011 at a cemetery in Valhalla, New York.[11]
On December 21, 2011, the U.S. Army said that eight American soldiers have been charged with manslaughter and an array of other crimes in connection with Chen's death: 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 and Sgt. Travis F. Carden, all of C Co., 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.[3][12] Schwartz, the only officer charged, faces eight counts of dereliction of duty. The enlisted soldiers face various charges, including dereliction of duty, making false statements, assault, involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. The Army did not specify what alleged acts by the soldiers resulted in the charges. The Army said the case remains open and other charges could be filed.[13]References ^ "陳宇暉出殯 數百人送行" (in Chinese). 世界日報. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ a b Gardiner, Sean (12 October 2011). "Army Probes Events Behind Soldier Death". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ a b c Leitsinger, Miranda (21 December 2011). "8 US soldiers charged in death of fellow GI". MSNBC. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Hawley, Chris (21 December 2011). "8 U.S. soldiers charged in comrade's death". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ a b Semple, Kirk (21 December 2011). "8 Charged in Death of Fellow Soldier, U.S. Army Says". New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Leitsinger, Miranda (6 January 2012). "Army reveals 'sensitive' material to family of dead Chinese-American soldier". MSNBC. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ a b c Gonnerman, Jennifer (2012-01-06). "Pvt. Danny Chen, 1992–2011". New York Magazine. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ "8 US soldiers charged in comrade's death". Associated Press. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Beekman, Daniel; Braden Goyette, Corky Siemaszko (21 December 2011). "8 soldiers charged in death of Pvt. Danny Chen in Afghanistan". New York Daily News. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Semple, Kirk (30 October 2011). "Soldier’s Death Raises Suspicions in Chinatown". New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Cuza, Bobby (11 October 2011). "Parents Of Manhattan Solider Killed Overseas Question Son's Treatment". NY1 News. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ Londoño, Ernesto; Christian Davenport (21 December 2011). "8 U.S. soldiers charged in death of comrade in Afghanistan". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ "8 soldiers charged in death of fellow serviceman". CNN. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Chen