U.S. Soldiers Charged in Pvt. Chen's Death; Army Says Victim Harassed With Ethnic Slurs

The truth has come out from the military, and it appears that Pvt. Danny Chen was racially harassed and beaten by fellow soldiers.

He did not die as originally reported.

The military said Wednesday eight American soldiers have been charged in connected with the Oct. 3 death of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan, the U.S. Army said.

Chen, a 19-year-old from New York, was found dead in southern Afghanistan in a guard tower. The Army had reported it the time Chen died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Now, the Army said it wasn't suicide. A military investigation revealed that Chen, from New York's Chinatown, was a victim of harassment and ethnic slurs. Five of eight soldiers have been charged with negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter. The others were charged with making a false statement, dereliction of duty and assault consummated by battery.

According to the Army press release the following were charged in connection with Chen's death: First 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.

A march was held in New York's lower Manhattan last week demanding answers into the military investigation of Chen's death.

At the time of his death, Chen's family said they were concerned their son might have been harassed and beaten, and that it might have been a racial issue because he was Chinese. Chen's aunt said her son, who volunteered for service hoping to one day become a New York police officer, wanted to save the country and really loved the country.