Not Forgotten
May 17, 2014 5:20 PM Subscribe
As discussed previously on the blue, Danny Chen died in Afghanistan not from fighting the Taliban or al Qaeda, but from suicide after prolonged abuse by his comrades. A street in Manhattan now bears his name.
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posted by sarcasticah at 5:40 PM on May 17, 2014
posted by sarcasticah at 5:40 PM on May 17, 2014
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I'm glad that he gets some recognition and saddened that it always seems to be too late. I hope his family gains comfort from this move and that others learn to speak up when they witness abuse.
posted by arcticseal at 5:53 PM on May 17, 2014
I'm glad that he gets some recognition and saddened that it always seems to be too late. I hope his family gains comfort from this move and that others learn to speak up when they witness abuse.
posted by arcticseal at 5:53 PM on May 17, 2014
As I commented in the first Danny Chen thread:
. (+ thousands more)
261 active duty suicides last year, down from 319 in 2012, not including over 200 per year in the National Guard and reserves and so many veterans we've lost count.
It's good to see one of them get some serious recognition, but let's not leave it at that. I don't know how many others like him were similarly abused, but I suspect we'd need to rename a LOT of streets.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:55 PM on May 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
. (+ thousands more)
261 active duty suicides last year, down from 319 in 2012, not including over 200 per year in the National Guard and reserves and so many veterans we've lost count.
It's good to see one of them get some serious recognition, but let's not leave it at that. I don't know how many others like him were similarly abused, but I suspect we'd need to rename a LOT of streets.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:55 PM on May 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
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What is wrong with our society that abusers continue to proliferate?
posted by BlueHorse at 6:16 PM on May 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
What is wrong with our society that abusers continue to proliferate?
posted by BlueHorse at 6:16 PM on May 17, 2014 [3 favorites]
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Army Sgt. Adam Holcomb, who was charged with maltreatment and assault, was demoted and sentenced to 30 days in prison in July 2012, though he was cleared on the more serious charge of negligent homicide.
Issues of appropriate rehabilitation or punishment aside, people like this simply should not be working in the military.
posted by ignignokt at 9:22 PM on May 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
Army Sgt. Adam Holcomb, who was charged with maltreatment and assault, was demoted and sentenced to 30 days in prison in July 2012, though he was cleared on the more serious charge of negligent homicide.
Issues of appropriate rehabilitation or punishment aside, people like this simply should not be working in the military.
posted by ignignokt at 9:22 PM on May 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by war wrath of wraith at 7:46 AM on May 18, 2014
posted by war wrath of wraith at 7:46 AM on May 18, 2014
Issues of appropriate rehabilitation or punishment aside, people like this simply should not be working in the military.
I think I'd need more information on what precisely he did in order to make a judgment like that.
Hazing is real and frequently happens, but often is not sadistic or malicious - the soldier is simply repeating the things that were done to them, because they genuinely believe that's the best way to help. The Army really focuses - or did when I was in - a lot on "tough love", to include grueling, humiliating punishment in order to drive the lessons home. It's really unfortunate that Danny Chen killed himself, but think that blaming the individual sergeant and not the system is an error.
posted by corb at 1:05 PM on May 19, 2014
I think I'd need more information on what precisely he did in order to make a judgment like that.
Hazing is real and frequently happens, but often is not sadistic or malicious - the soldier is simply repeating the things that were done to them, because they genuinely believe that's the best way to help. The Army really focuses - or did when I was in - a lot on "tough love", to include grueling, humiliating punishment in order to drive the lessons home. It's really unfortunate that Danny Chen killed himself, but think that blaming the individual sergeant and not the system is an error.
posted by corb at 1:05 PM on May 19, 2014
Please read the "previously" link. Even if this were not a hazing applied specifically to an individual because of his race, yes, he would share the blame for participating in harassing someone to death, even if the system encourages that.
posted by ignignokt at 4:03 PM on May 19, 2014
posted by ignignokt at 4:03 PM on May 19, 2014
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:33 PM on May 17, 2014