Family of Danny Chen speaks after soldiers charged

On Wednesday, the Army announced that eight fellow soldiers had been charged in connection with the 19-year-old private's death — and a spokeswoman for the Chen family expressed doubts that Chen's death was actually a suicide.


"That's the Army's version," said Elizabeth OuYang of the Organization of Chinese Americans. She spoke at a news conference with Chen's mother, Su Zhen Chen, standing beside her, weeping for her only child. "We are not convinced," OuYang said of the military's suicide report.


No matter who fired the fatal bullet, she said, the death amounted to murder because of bullying that Chen allegedly suffered at the hands of fellow soldiers.


"Danny Chen died after this mistreatment. Whether it was suicide or homicide, what they did to him caused his death," OuYang said of the accused.


The eight men face charges ranging from negligent homicide to assault and dereliction of duty. All served with Chen in the 1st Stryker Combat Team of the Army's 25th Infantry Division in southern Afghanistan; they're being held at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan.


A military statement did not provide details of the alleged crimes but said more information would be released "as it becomes available."


The charges came after New York's Asian American community rallied around Chen's immigrant parents upon learning that he had told relatives of ethnic taunts and physical abuse while in Afghanistan.


Three sergeants—Andrew Van Bockel, Adam Holcomb and Jeffrey Hurst—and two specialists—Thomas Curtis and Ryan Offutt—have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and other charges. Under military law, a soldier commits involuntary manslaughter when his or her negligent actions lead to the death of another. The offense could lead to court-martial proceedings.


Sgt. Travis Carden was charged with violation of general regulation, maltreatment and other offenses. First Lt. Daniel Schwartz and Staff Sgt. Blaine Dugas were charged with multiple counts of dereliction of duty.


Mr. Chen's family said the Army told them Mr. Chen was dragged from his bed and beaten by fellow soldiers after he forgot to turn off the water heater for their unit's shower. Another night in Afghanistan, Mr. Chen was made to crawl over rocks on the ground while soldiers threw rocks, and some of the rocks hit him, the family said.


First Sgt. Alan Davis, an Army spokesman based in Afghanistan, said the soldiers have been transferred from the outpost where they had been stationed with Mr. Chen. He said they were under increased supervision but were still on active duty at other outposts in southern Afghanistan. The Army will next conduct a probe to determine if there are grounds to sustain the charges.


Through letters home and Facebook messages, Mr. Chen wrote of problems he had faced while stationed in Georgia for basic training prior to his deployment. He said he was the only Chinese-American in his unit and would repeatedly be asked if he was from China. Other soldiers called him "Jackie Chan," after the action movie actor, he said. "They also call my name, Chen, in a goatlike voice, sometimes for no reason," he wrote to his parents in February. "No idea how it started, but I attempt to ignore it. I still respond, though, to amuse them. People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time. I'm running out of jokes to come back at them."