Well I have so no, not enough of a punishment.

Why do you have to be in "combat or under fire" to realize this Sergeant is a racist, bigot and a bully and should have got years for this crime. Wake up!

You don't have to be under fire to receive fire from a toxic leader.

This guy skated out basically untouched. His "confinement" will likely be at the base bar and a few thousand forfeture? Does not seem even close.

Agreed...not enough punishment. In fact, I'd say it is total B.S. The a**hole probably still doesn't care, is still a bigot and will treat others the same. In fact, I would be willing to bet, we see him again. jerk

30 days and $1000 for mental abuse that led to suicide? Wow, the Army's definitely showcasing it's more dignified side here.

P.S. - "dragon lady" "Jackie Che" and "egg roll" are lame as @!$%# as far as insults go. I'd be more annoyed that I was around so much stupidity than offended (I'm Vietnamese) personally.

it's a pretty harsh punishment as it's almost certainly gonna bring his career to a grinding halt and make all those deployments and work count for nothing.

but it's still not harsh enough.... doesn't matter if Chen was slacking, this isn't the freakin 70s anymore.... NCOs are supposed to create and manage professional soldiers, not harass them literally to death...

Holcomb doing that was borderline dereliction...

It's amazing how many veterans of 'watching a war on the nighly news' we have on here. He was found guilty....for all intents and purposes his career IS over....however, anyone who has been deployed knows that many of these things 'done to him' sound pretty tame. It is a an absolute tragedy that a Soldier took his own life, and any Soldier, current or former feels for his family, but if I was a gambling man, I would bet there were some other mental issues going on.

Real Army Wife. I agree! I also have a question. Does that demotion mean his pay is reduced by that much MONTHLY? If so, at least they hit the a**hole in the pocketbook hard and that is good. If not, if that is how much he would lose over a YEAR, then that sucks!

I believe that the officer in this case should have been dishonorably discharged for purposedly and knowingly causing pain to a fellow soldier!

The military's abuse of power has grown out of control---they forgot HONOR, LOYALITY AND THE PROTECTION OF ALL AMERICANS.

This man failed and he failed miserably to stand up to and for such and hus, should have been Dishonorably Discharged for he chose to fail to protect and honor another solider due to personal prejudices!

Pvt. Chen berated enough to kill himself = 30days and $1000 monthly loss. I dont care if this soldier will be drummed out. He still gets to live and live his life. Watch him when he becomes a cop, we will hear more about this guy sometime soon.

Hey Bill, I think you were under fire for too long, next time wear the helmit.

This is Army justice for you, this fat @!$%# skates on his stripes and his highest award was an ARCOM for meritorious service, just a slap on the hand for his serious breach of discipline

Real Army Wife:

Then you would have been happy to have Pvt. Chen on guard duty while your husband was sleeping at an AO in Afghanistan? Pvt. Chen might have been asleep as well. I believe he was reprimanded for sleeping on guard duty. Maybe they should have just let him sleep and not reprimanded him. Yes, the reprimands were way overboard, but if I were in a war zone, I surely would not like it if the guard I am expecting to be watching as I sleep is also asleep.

I'm assuming his pay is taken monthly because he was demoted. i am also a soldiers wife and i think at the very least he should of got a dishonorable discharge. bullying should not be tolerated in the military and the fact that it was from his superiors makes it more sickening. the officers who did nothing about it and didn't report it should be punished too. he was just a kid, what kind of lowlife gets off on abusing a kid, they let him off way too easy. 30 days confinement isn't even a punishment thats better than being in a war zone. this is B. S. Bill, we are americans and our opinion Does matter.

Why are the people that are pushing this trial racist? Seriously, if Private Chen was born in the US, he is not an Asian-Pacific American. He is an American. While I don't agree with the way he was treated everyone has to get over the racism for it to go away.

I have zero use for a f*#kin bully and this POS is nothing more than a bully, of the worst kind!!!!!

Nice try LA-2260687 - The racism within our units is dizzying. This wasn't about breaking General Order #1.

forfieture of pay, reduction in rank, a discharge(dishonorable), and confinement is more should be the punishment. being stationed at Ft Bragg, once upon a time, i know that toxic leadership is widespread there! unfortunately it ended this way for Pvt Chen.

Pathetic, a bully indeed, and what a bully really is..., is a COWARD. This country doesn't need cowards out there in uniform treating comerades in arms like the enemy.

Maybe they should repeal the "don't ask don't tell if you're a bully and a coward" question as one signs up?

@LA226 He was physically manhandled and drug across gravel because someone else left on a water pump for a shower. Nothing to do with sleeping on his post. The sergeant was just a prick. What he needs is to be put under a CO like a full bird COL. who hates bullies and treats them the way they treated their victims. Give him a taste of his own medicine and make him feel helpless because of rank the way he made others feel because of his.

I don't know about the army, but in the Marine Corps name calling and hazing are part of what forms the bonds my brothers and I had. At one point in time, we all were hazed somewhat for dumb crap we did. It was a price you paid for jeopardizing your unit. It was designed to make us understand that individual wants do not ever trump unit needs. As far as name calling, it's the freaking military, not the 3rd grade. Stand up for your self and give it right back. It's funny and that is just what men do. They bust each others balls and life goes on. The guys that were delicate flowers never made it. Perhaps it is tolerated because it is a good way to weed out the mentally weak. Too bad that it didn't happen state side or the dude could have just went AWOL and wouldn't have had to kill himself. War isn't your office or your school, the rules in the rear do not coincide with the rules in the field. If you don't get it, that's because you were not in the military or you were a poge that pushed pencils or issued gear.

I'm a combat veteran and the only thing I will say (especially to real military wife up there) is that good leadership has positive results, bad leadership has negative results. You never berate a soldier, you train them. You never push them from the fold, you give them a reason to come into it.
The fact that this soldier is dead shows the failure in leadership and in the unit. Bullying is not leadership and it does nothing to protect the unit or bring about the successful completion of a mission.

From a squad to a platoon to an entire battalion, acting like a bunch of catty bit@ches will do nothing to improve your fighting force or give soldiers the support they need to carry out one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

The problem is that sometimes the childish name calling is just boys being boys and at others it goes too far. It is an NCOs job to watch his men and gauge what is happening. There are no excuses for failing in this. I'm betting that the hazing got out of control to the point where it went from general conditioning for being a part of the unit to blatant childish bullying and abuse. The NCOs should always be keeping an eye on this and regulating.

When I was in the service, NCOs were the backbone that gave the military its shape and stature. An NCO that allows this type of behavior is failing in their duty, putting lives at risk and as such deserves the worst that the military has to offer.

It doesn't matter what Chen did. Toxic leadership is toxic leadership. If Chen wasn't doing his duty then article 15 him or press formal charges and get him to where he can't hurt himself or others. Sgt. Holcomb is an abusive, toxic leader, an adult bully acting under the color of uniform.

This sorry POS excuse for an NCO deserves to get fragged in the next deployment. The jerk needed a BCD and several years in Ft Leavenworth getting sodomized by the lifers. Holcomb, I pray you and I never cross paths. You are filth and a discredit the Uniform of the US Army !

Chen was a weak minded fool. I'm not sorry he killed himself because nothing is worth killing yourself for. As for the harassment he received, I don't know if they're real because I don't know if there are commissioned officers (his platoon leader, his company commander) accused of negligence for ignoring the said harassment. In my opinion Chen have other issues for killing himself and the light reprimand of the accuse.

The Court was unable to make a connection between the verbal insults and the eventual suicide. Therefore, the Sergeant did not cause Chen's death.

Case Closed.

GovtIssue said;

anyone who has been deployed knows that many of these things 'done to him' sound pretty tame.

chowthen said:

Chen was a weak minded fool. I'm not sorry he killed himself because nothing is worth killing yourself for. As for the harassment he received, I don't know if they're real because I don't know if there are commissioned officers (his platoon leader, his company commander) accused of negligence for ignoring the said harassment.

According to several previous articles on this matter, Pvt Chen left the water pump running after a shower. In punishment, he was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night by six officers, from a specialist to a staff sergeant to a lieutenant, and beaten into unconsciousness, and found the next morning still unconscious, bruised, cut up and bleeding.

It does not take six superior officers to discipline one private for dereliction of duty. Proper punishment for such an infraction should have been PT, extra chores, curtailment of privileges. Not a concussion. And when he was found in that condition the next morning nothing was done to reprimand the soldiers. There is no way that should be tolerated anywhere, on deployment or not.

Did six of your CO's ever give you a concussion that knocked you out a whole night?

I would think that if Chen was such a bad soldier then he should of never made it there in the first place, right? Then I also agree with peoples comments that he should of been discharged or transfered where he wouldn't be a problem to the rest of the group he was with. The bullying and this guys punishment is just unreal. Maybe everyone is not cut out to be a solier. I thought it would of been a lot more than just a slap on the wrist. Then he has to go to bed every night and sleep with this for the rest of his life. Who knows whats worse?

Military judges made correct ruling --- because this guy will be taken out by his own later on when he is reassigned.

Accidential friendly fire by unknown subject --- works every time. Worked perfectly in World War II and Vietnam for taking care of abusers and cowards....GO ARMY....

If the plt.leader knew of this,it ment that they had a problem with Chen.And the Sgt was just getting him in line or trying to befor they gave up on him and shipped him out of the army. I have seen this happen a hundred times. If you are screwing up, your Sgt will come down on you until you get your sh**t straight, this would result in name calling, push ups, low crawling and any other punishment they can think of. Its not abuse, its a attitude adjustment. The army is not the boy scouts, you want the guy next to you to have it together,your life depends on it. It is pretty clear that Chen did'nt belong in a 11Bravo company.

@Travis E.: If name calling and hazing are part of what forms the bonds you and your brothers had, then you and your brothers are a bunch a$$h*les. I was going to say you are a bunch of baboons but even they know better. You were probably the bully in grammar school, you are a sorry person and you lack two very important things a man should have.

I don't think anyone should comment or criticize unless they have actually served in the military. Sorry but that's just how I feel. I'm not saying what happened was ok. I'm just saying people have said some things that seem ignorant to the situation.

Dress up a murder or accidental death as a suicide while in a war zone. Rather easy if you think about the environment of a war.

i salute you pvt Danny Chen ,peace brother , as for Sgt Holcomb i salute you my middlefinger you muthaphucker a$shole !!!

Bullying is bullying, no matter where it happens. There is no need anywhere that says bullying a man to the point he feels the only way out is suicide. Say what you want about suicide being cowardly, it is a sad comment on society that validates the unthinkable behavior on the part of superiors. I feel for the soldier and his family. The Chen's raised a sensitive son, and did not deserve to lose him in this awful way. The arguments offered by the defendant's lawyers are atrocious. This sergeant deserved much harsher punishment than he got. I hope his life is made miserable by his peers. Racial bullying was not necessary.

Man, those are ugly Uniforms! They have changed for the worse in 40 yrs. Anyway, I agree he should have been more severely punished. When in Theater you truly are a Band of Brothers whose lives depend on each other.

Jobanski said;

I don't think anyone should comment or criticize unless they have actually served in the military.

Our military represents us. It's our tax dollars that pay their salary. I realize that us armchair CO's have no real idea of what combat is like, we do have a right to ask for accountability, as with any other government function. And Danny Chen's parents most of all, because it was their son who died.

Sorry but that's just how I feel. I'm not saying what happened was ok. I'm just saying people have said some things that seem ignorant to the situation.

Yes, they have. I have seen some ignorant comments. Sgt Holcomb was not the only superior officer implicated in this mess, nor is he the most senior. The most senior of those charged should take the responsibility for what happened on his watch.

Chen killed himself. that's apparently not an issue, although in some earlier articles i read it was wondered if he had been killed by friendly fire. That being said,he didn't have an out. going higher just ran him into more problems. AWOl was not an option--in the desert, where do you go? I don' condone his suicide but neither do I condone what drove him to it. He was nineteen. They were all older and superior and therefore responsible for him.

The Platoon leader in this case should be court martialed for dereliction of duty. IF he was involved in the "Blanket Party" that Pvt Chen suffered, he and the Platoon Sergeant should both be charged with assault. A bad conduct discharge, or even a dishonorable discharge would be in order. For those who aren't aware (which I would be equates to the bulk of the people on this list) a dishonorable discharge is the equivalent of a FELONY conviction. I really wish people would learn a little about the military before commenting.

I do have to wonder about the picture of Pvt Chen in his ACUs. There is no rank on his chest. Unless the picture was taken at boot camp, there should at least be a single chevron rank on his chest. The only other option is that he was demoted for one reason or another.

The Army of today is not the army of the 70s. The changes began in the early 80s and continue to this day. At one point in time the purpose of boot camp was to weed out those mentally incapable of handling the rigors of military service. That all changed in the early 80s when it became PC to allow women into the ranks of the regular military instead of a separate service (WACs, etcs). As a result, individuals with less mental toughness are making it into the military than were before. It also means that ones who would otherwise have their abusive behavioral problems diagnosed and beaten out of them in boot camp are slipping through as well. A recent article in Military Times talked about how almost 80% of a recent Ranger school training cycle graduated. In the early 80s, the course was so tough that only 35-40% graduated and NO ONE got waivers for academic failures. I remember when 4 soldiers DIED from hypothermia during Ranger school in the late 80s. The Marines are not as verbally abusive of their recruits as they once were, but they haven't lowered the physical demands at all. They would rather wash out a recruit than pin on the Eagle,Globe and Anchor that defines them as Marines. I applaud them for that.

He deserves what he gets, but far as calling names is it really gonna solve problems? Just give the punishment due him, He knew right from wrong .I know some people will not agree but that's ok too, everyone is intitle to his or her own opinion.

To all of you griping about the opinions from the non vets - get over yourselves. You may think only your opinion matters because you CHOSE to join this exclusive little club. And that just proves you don't deserve the respect of the people you swore to protect.

The fact of the matter is you can use your "unless you're in combat" logic for the argument against this officer as well. They are in combat, they are being fired upon on a daily basis. So there is no room for this abusive harassment bull$hit! It is nothing more than a distraction from the real reason you are there. You focus on the mission and not how you can get your laughs at another officer's expense. It doesn't take a vet to understand that.

Personally I would rather have less of you serving and protecting me than have you overseas horsing around when you should be watching for the enemy!

prosecute him for the harassment,the abuse, the racism, absolutely, but for him being so weak-minded as to commit suicide? No, at some point we have to wake up and exercise some common sense. Regardless, however, the punishment was too light in lieu of what should have been a racially motivated case, even so far as to charge them with assault on this poor young man (notice i specifically do not say young Chinese-American man). He was a U.S. soldier, an American and a volunteer for protecting our way of life, he should have been respected as such. The offender should at the very least be stripped of his military status, reduced in rank, force to pay the parents 50% of his salaries for the rest of his life as restitution for the mental anguish, and serve some prison time for committing crimes of harassment, racism, and assault. This should not be tolerated. Even if he was a homosexual (reference to dragon lady implies his sexual preference).

But, they did not commit manslaughter or murder or cause his death.

When you are actually in a combat AO or under fire then your opinion will have weight.

Been there, done that and agree, not enough of a punishment.

What now smart@ss?

LOL @ LT Scrounge, a d/d is most definitelyi NOT a felony. Felons can't get jobs, for one, and d/d's easily get jobs. They're just unwise to list their military experience on a resume. Lol at what appears to be Officer Ignorant.

Also lol @ your comment about the differences in the military over the decades. You forget that the military of the early 70s and into the early 80s was NOT a volunteer military. Most were drafted in '70-71 and then didn't leave because they knew they were 'broken' mentally and would have no place to go. And don't give me crap about the last draft being in '71, most who joined up until around the mid-80's had nowhere else to go, either by being in trouble with the law, or no economic or vocational opportunities.

i'm a decorated VFW myself, and was a volunteer. You would suggest that the old argument between the private and DI could be settled 'out behind the watershed' as it was during those times. This was found to be destructive to military cohesion and progress, severely destructive. The times of just having to follow orders, carry a pack and shoot in that direction have been over for a long time. I suggest you catch up to it before you start hollerin' about 'the old days'. Because your comments are meaningless, both in today's military and in the public venue. Vietnam is over man... let it go.

WAKE UP AMERICA!

I am surprised at the punishment handed out. I retired 3 years ago and cannot remember such a lenient sentence for someone found guilty. He basically will lose about $150 dollars a month and lose his SGT rank (which is the worst part of the punishment). I have known NCO's who have lost more for various infractions such as DUI, fraternization, insubordination, etc.

What I am actually more concerned is that the leadership failed in maintaining discipline within the platoon. It seems the Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader stuck their heads in the sand and pretended not to have seen anything. I have to also question where was the Squad Leader and why did he not put and end to this. I understand that you have to teach young Soldiers to stand up for themselves but when you see a Soldier struggling within the Platoon (family) it is time to step up and stop the BS. Combat Arms is all about leadership

The vast majority of you that have never served don't understand the culture of the military. The weakest link in any group is singled out, self esteem destroyed, often physically, but always psychologically abused. It begins in boot camp where they cull some, but there are plenty that weren't even close to being capable of fitting in 'the club.' If you've served--you've seen it.

A neighbor of ours---a kid that was a foster child in our neighbors home had been on medications, a fetal alcohol syndrome diagnosis as a child, was told that if he got off his medications for 30 days, the US Army would take him. The stopped the meds, was obviously lost, was sent to boot camp, and one of those that slid through after he was the company joke--harassed constantly. Went to Iraq, really lost it---discharged, and considerably more messed up before he entered the military. The Army and Marines flex the threshold the most. Who suffers? Who pays for the aggressive recruiting and subsequent abuse of these walking targets?

In a world where the US can't keep out of wars, the 'best and the brightest' go on to other things--that recruiting is smaller. Vietnam was a quickie compared to compared to this imaginary "war on terror." Pakistan was a haven for training AQ. The 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. So---logically, the Military Industrial Complex sell a war on Iraq. Didn't the same people enable Sadam to power? There a strictly enforced no-fly zone in place, oil for food program, and he wasn't any other brutal the Khadafi, al-Assad, "our boys", The Shah, Baptista, or Marcos.

The entire military, defense contractors, and politicians that eat from their troff---put them all on trial.

Some of these posts are telling...

The military of the United States is being portrayed by some as a island out of "Lord of the Flies"...

Really? That bullying/belittling/intimidating/ball-busting leads to bonding & mutual respect? Really!!??

Whatever happened to integrity, honor, respect, or the expectation of just plain old common decency??

@Lolly - when the next terrorist attack happens, or next disaster occurs when there is no military response, I sure hope you don't open your face about it. In fact, the next time some piss ant, 3rd world terrorist collective starts lip flappin about how our country needs to be destroyed, Your mouth should not open. In fact, it is turds like you, with your disrespect for those that stand that wall, come under fire, bleed, die, loose limbs, and worse that proves exactly how utterly ignorant, uninformed, and sheltered under mommy's tit some people are.

For the rest, while it is unfortunate, tradgic, and whoafully disgraceful what happened to Chen, sometimes coddling a slacker will get someone else in the unit killed. Having served in combat, counselling, talking, and even writing a troop up only goes so far. That troop has to want to do better, to be a part of the whole collective. Now we don't know, nor will we ever truly know what steps his chain of command, to include his peers, took to bring his performance into line. We don't know what other issues this kid caused, nor do we know what the kid was thinking the minute he pulled that trigger. MAYBE, the kid realized he was a screw up, maybe he was depressed over not being able to wiggle his way out of his deployment, maybe there were other things going on with this kid that just stacked up causing the whole chain of events. I am not trying to condone the behavior modification these other soldiers used, but we need to realize, in a war zone, baby sitting and wiping someone's nose because they can't seem to get their head out of their rectum, WILL get someone or a number of someone's killed. And quite honestly, NO ONE in a combat zone has time, or the patience to play nurse maid.

Part of this problem stems from us. All of us, with the politically correct, we can't hurt each others feelings, touchy feely, Bullsht. Nothing, and I mean nothing ever gets solved, resolved or fixed when we are too damned worried about how it is going to hurt the feelings of someone who there is a problem with. I certainly had my fair share of nicknames thrown my way. Sure as hell had my fair share of crawling a pit because someone in the squad effed up. Lost days off because someone couldn't pass a qualification, or hell even been bumped into someone's deployment rotation because they were unable to deploy. War is stressful. Combat is unnerving. And serving in the sand box is not like some Hollywood Blockbuster. You have insurgents, spies, sympathsizers, turn coats, TCNs, and yes even our jacked beyond belief politicians dictating military objectives and rules of engagement (i.e. the Obama - don't fire till you are shot bullsht) when clearly they have NO CLUE sitting in some airconditioned dining room, sucking down chardonnay's and chowin on caviar. So while I don't condone what happened, I can certainly understand the how and why it did.

Actually Budro, the ONLY WAY to get a Dishonorable Discharge is through a courtsmartial, and therefore, convicted of a felony. But if you served as you say you did, then you would know this. Likewise, as you know, any infraction of the UCMJ, that is the Uniform Code of Military Justice, IS a FELONY, as the entire code was enacted by congress and thus FEDERAL LAW, violations of which are IN FACT TERMED FELONIES.

For those that are confused about military justice, think of it like this. There are 2 types of discharges - Administrative and Penial. Penial Discharges include the DEAD DUCK (of Dishonorable Dischard) or the BIG CHICKEN DINNER (BCD or Bad Conduct Discharge). On the administrative side, you have Honorable (which is what you get when you retire, or your contract is up), Under Less Than Honorable (which is like an administrative version of the BCD), or a General Discharge (which means you either didn't measure up, or were released from service before your contract expired). Now, before a military courtsmartial takes place, there are 2 things that usually happen. 1st, depending on the infraction, the troop will be offered an Article 15 - or Non Judicial Punishment. It is basically an administrative Plea Bargain. The troop has the option to accept it, or request a courtmartial. Art 15s are a commander's tool for discipline. Now if the infraction is bad, then an Article 32 Hearing occurs, which is similar to a Grand Jury. There are also 3 different kinds of Courtsmartials, with each being limited in scope and punishment they can hand out. So, there is more to the beast than what the press, and the supposed arm chair military experts spew.

Gibsonlespaul2425 Were you there? The hot water heater was a made up in the field unit. It was not a supplied hot water heater. The day before there was a platoon meeting on how to properly operate it! They went over it and over it........there was not a large group of soldiers there to begin with...roughly 20! It was also not only the water heater breaking but the FACT that the water was leaking towards the radio room! The radio's were their ONLY contact to anyone..........believe it or not, FOBs and most COP's do have internet access but NOT THIS ONE!!

sillyshrinks - was Chen fulfilling "HONOR, LOYALTY AND THE PROTECTION OF ALL AMERICANS" when he fell asleep on watch or was late for patrol?

army wife - you say the NCOs should have just NJP'd Chen to get him in line - well then by the same token, shouldn't Chen have just gone to superiors to make the NCOs stop?

It is incredibly sad that this young man felt suicide was the only way out. If you read other stories, you will see he had been acting erratically in the time leading up to this. Truthfully, he probably shouldn't have been deployed, but he was. I see comments about dereliction of duty - well whoever sent this kid over there in the first place is just as guilty.

Amanda-2017567 I don't know where you got your story from but it is NOT even close to what happened and now you are on here spreading lies. While other NCO's have been charged with Chen's death, THEY DID NOT ALL DRAG HIM FROM HIS BUNK!!! That is an outright LIE, you can google the charge sheets and SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!

@ Diana-1021597

You are exactly the type of person that I was talking about. I did not in fact torment anyone in grammar school or any school for that matter. The fact that a woman like your self, that most likely has no experience in the military, thinks that you can judge a culture that you have no experience in speaks more about you than me. Your post was nothing but ignorant abusive insults about people who torment others. That makes a whole lot of sense. People like you make me sick to my stomach with your uneducated judgments, and higher than thou attitudes and opinions. You're a hypocrite and you're not even smart enough to hide it.

It does not take six superior officers to discipline one private for dereliction of duty. Proper punishment for such an infraction should have been PT, extra chores, curtailment of privileges. Not a concussion. And when he was found in that condition the next morning nothing was done to reprimand the soldiers. There is no way that should be tolerated anywhere, on deployment or not.

LOL! What privileges, do you think they had a PX, movie theater, the internet, phone service? Go watch Restrepo and then will give you a small clue as to what Palace was like......You can even google it.

Oh, and BTW, he was given extra chores......that is what was considered part of the "hazing". The extra PT, that too was considered part of the "hazing" according to the charges. He never had a concussion!

@Bluestar mom. It doesn't matter how many times they went over it. NO ONE deserves to be beaten into unconsciousness and left to lie all night. As far as name calling oh well it is part of hazing I agree and I'm not saying they should be charged with his suicide, but some punk NCO who likes to beat up on a 19 year old private is a worthless excuse for a solider and human being. I stand by my previous statement. Put this trash under a CO that hates bullies and see how "Bad" this NCO really is.

Gibsonlespaul2425 Really? Sgt. Holcomb realize that Chen had scratches on his back and took him to the Medic. The medic.....ALSO A PRIVATE took care of the scratches.....he also sat and talked with Chen asking him questions with regard to what had happened. I happen to KNOW this medic and he was NOT intimidated by the leadership! The Medic ASKED him specifically if he was OK mentally as well as physically and he replied he was fine!

I don't know where the unconsciousness and concussion is coming from. He scraped his back, there was never an injury to his head.

No matter the abuse, when a person takes their own life, instigators cannot be held responsible for the actual charge of death in the matter. The decision to take one's life is totally upon the person. However, losing rank and pay grade goes on this Sgt's record forever, never to be stricken. It may seem too small a penalty, yet for the mental and physical abuse, not in regard to the death, the punishment was appropriate.

As a military non-com, he lost privileges and rights, lost ability to give orders and oversea troops, and lost a chunk of money given the yearly average pay grade lost. Without literally discharging the Sgt for abuse, he got pretty much the maximum for the offense, laying hands on a subordinate, and giving racial slurs. Take into account that it wil be quite some time before he wil stand a chance for promotion, and if he has a sever mental problem with handling or associating with Asian troops, he will most likely have another bout of offenses soon enough given the mental weight of the matter and his demotion. Then the military tribunal and court-martial will rip hi a new one. Personally if I were the young man's father, I would privately contact and communicate with any friends his son had, and set the Sgt up for a fall. Purposefully playing the game and achieving a goal to seek righteous retribution is better than doing nothing at all. Yet I would first sue the bisturd and see what civil courts would do.

I am not sure of civilian versus military protections from civil suit, but the family may find more justice there than in a military court.

I think first off, if I were the father, I would let a short time pass and let the grief and anger subside, then contact the Sgt and see what really lies in his heart. If enlightenment has taught the man a good lesson of responsibility for his actions and words, and he shows genuine remorse, it might better set the fatehr to address the issues with a proper mindset.

In ths world and nation that I am familiar with, there are a ton of people out there and on here that feel they have to show no responisibility for their words, or the pain or suffering than lose lips and poor attitudes reap upon others. Its a world of such inappropriate behavior that our kids constantly watch TV reality shows that promote the humiliation and exasperation of others as entertainment.

It has spread to our school systems, on Twitter and Facebook and those poor kids that are attacked verbally and mentally often now commit suicide. freedom of speech does not offer us freedom of responsibility for our words.

Watching a person on the ledge of a building and yelling "jump! jump!" seems to be the approved behavior of ignorant uncaring adults all over. Jumping in with a panel of judges on the TV reality show as they purposely humiliate a contestant and loving it, brings to light the type of person your are, and puts you right there in the same class as that Sgt.

If that just reminded you of your like behavior in the past, then keep your comments to yourself as you have lost rights to grade or approve/disapprove of this man's actions. Simply put, simply defined.

Serving prior duty as I did in 1975-1975, I watched as a DI pushed and shoved and hit a trainee one day, as the large trainee turned and defended himself knocking the DI out. As the MPs soon swarmed the company area, a CG quickly pulled in and took over the situation, ordering the MPs to stand down.

The trainee was given a general discharge and sent home that day on the bus without regular pay or retroactive. The DI lost rank and pay-grade and was transferred to another company. So soon after the Maple Leaf hearings, the army was quick to respond and resolve any situation where a superior officer or non-com had literally physically attacked a subordinate without physical provocation. The army takes care of their own.

Will you STOP! Pvt. Chen was NOT the only Asian in the Company!!!!

@Bluestar mom: I don't buy it. If that was the case then why did holcomb hint he was suffering from PTSD and say this in court "I haven't had a CT scan, but I know I have issues up there" after apologizing? If he was so "caring" that he "rushed" PVT chen straight to the medic and did nothing wrong? Doesn't add up. PT and name calling is one thing, but an E5 abusing an E1 is something else entirely. This guy is a disgrace to the uniform and should be fed his "Big Chicken Dinner" at the very least.

Ms. Amanda -

The Court has given you accountibilty, why won't you acceopt it?

The Court evaluated all the evidence and could make no connection between the Sergeant's verbal insults and the eventual suicide.

Case Closed.

It's time to get over your petty prejudices in the press.

Mr. Mark S. -

You salute your brother, Hanoi Jane, none other.

Gibsonlespaul2425 Sgt. Holcomb has had the concussion from IED's several times, especially during this deployment. Sgt. Holcomb was close to being a cripple for a bad back to due to being blown up so many times. Several times he was sent to KAF for therapy because he could not walk due to his back issues. 3 Deployments with the infantry will do that to you... In fact there was NOT one Soldier from this platoon who had not been checked for concussions as the IED's were pretty common in their area of operation. Some stepped on IED's and just got concussions due to the IED not working properly. Others suffered shattered ankles. One soldier in this platoon stepped on an IED and it was a dud, but it did disperse shrapnel and literally swole his eyes shut......he walked back to the COP, as soon as he was healed about a 10 days later, he was back on patrol and was shot...again walking back to the COP! They finally took him off the COP and brought him to HQ. 6 lost one leg and one his still in a semi-coma after losing both legs up to the top of the thigh back in Nov. If you went outside the wire you were impacted and had felt the IED's.

Nobody is saying he did nothing wrong....he was pissed because of the shower incident which put ALL OF THEIR LIVES AT RISK! Do you think it was over losing the water??? That water was full of parasites, you had to dump gallons of bleach in it before you showered and you had to shield the water from your face. It wasn't the water that was as important as the fact that the water was running from the shower set up to where the radios were set up.....the radios were the lifeline to the guys on patrol and the surround COPS in case they needed back up.

How long do you think they were there before Food was delivered to them?

@ Bluestar mom: You claimed he discovered the "Scratches" the PVT's back and "rushed" him to the medic it seems like you're going back and forth. Obviously you're close to the situation and are reacting emotionally not based on facts or common sense. I never said he should be charged with a suicide. I said he was a bully and should be dealt with on that in a separate issue. I understand that his unit had been through hell and back and most of them should be commended, but just because it was a serious situation does not give him the right to assault a subordinate. In fact soldiers are trained how to react to life threatening situations in a non reckless manner. He should be discharged, not be allowed to represent our country still as an NCO. It's not "Patton's" army anymore where you slap a solider because he has shell shock (PTSD) and lets not forget a solider lost his life no matter who was to blame.

Sgt. Holcomb is the one who suffered NUMEROUS Concussions.......NOT Chen. Chen's back WAS scratched due to Sgt. Holcomb losing his temper and dragging him....at NO TIME was Chen ever unconscious!

I agree he is just a racist and should not be it the Army. The commander and Plt. Sgt. should also be punished. I have seen this many times, but I think there might have been more issues with the Pvt.

Yes, there may have been more issues going on with Private Chen. But that too, should have been noted and other measures taken to correct the problem, if any. Harassing/bullying him obviously didn't work!

Can't speak for the Army, as I was a squid, but brutality of all sorts in the US military is an everyday thing, and part of the socialization process recruits undergo during boot camp is to train them to remain dumb and blind to exactly this sort of thing. On my first ship, we had at least three enlisted people 'disappear' while the ship was underway (meaning they'd been conked in the head with a wrench and thrown overboard during the night), and there was plenty of other hazing and abuse of authority to go around. I'm not amazed that so little is reported, but that the services can maintain the appearance of normal function as well as they do.

Women in the Marine's are getting raped and assaulted and having read their statements, going to the HIGHER UPS, doesn't always work. Why defend this POS?

You live in a dream world if you think you can take on an officer and keep your postition.

@Diverdown1

You're quite right, when I was in there was a serious drug abuse problem, it was so bad that we has 21 casualties in a week due, in my opinion, to the troops being high in the field and not noticing sign of booby traps. Was almost joyous the day my transfer was approved to go to the LRRP's, where they would not tolerate drug use in the field. The problem with the "higher ups" is that no one wants to to get notice for having a problem like this, it makes them look incompetent.

To your other comment about the lady marines being raped, its not just the marines and this is an extremely serious problem. In these cases castration should be the punishment.

He was not a Commissioned Officer. He was a NCO - Non Commissioned Officer. An enlisted. But still yet. If he showed any prejudice what so ever. He should have been discharged. From reading this. It sounds like he showed prejudice and he also assaulted this young soldier.

I believe that if you re-read the article you might catch that those higher ups did know and did nothing. How far up do you expect the guy to go? Just go and build a phone and call the President? It gets old hearing about how a victim should have done more and more and more.. when the jerk who committed the crime shoulda been the one to be responsible. @!$%#. It's a 30 year old SERGEANT against a 19 year old PVT (who appears smaller as well).

I'm sorry, but how are people supposed to look up to that? Why would people want to get involved in the military if they get to look forward to physical punishment, harassment, rape, intimidation, etc, etc. Let my boss try that crap with me. Not only would I kick their butt, but I would have a solid lawsuit. Why is it too much to expect the military to have some of the same boundaries and protections as civilians at work?

K You are partially correct. It depends upon the position of the Officer. Company grade are easy to stand up to but usually defended by their superiors. Field grade are harder as they have been around awhile and have some connections. General Grade forget it. The only way you'll touch these guys is if you have a picture of them with a farm animal or a corpse if you know what I mean. I agree that the CO, CC and 1st Sgt all should have had to face at a minimum an art 15 hearing. However as you pointed out and correctly, the Officers don't usually get the justice they deserve. I've served with both some fine Line and Staff Officers. For the most part good people. But if it comes to me or them, they would hang me out to dry to save their job. Heck the Officers will sacrifice fellow Officers to save their job. A little cutthroat isn't it?

Mr. Steve C. -

Your Vietnam experience with drug abuse was mostly your choice. Recuse yourself from this discussion.

Your generation's experience and blatant drug use does not apply as well in the 21st Century.

I hope you are sober and clean now.

You're right. He got off cheap.

If he was endangering his unit, he should have been removed from that unit, not abused and humiliated until he kills himself. That sort of behavior by superior is absolutely unacceptable. Whether or not is occurs frequently is irrelevant. It is unacceptable, and must be punished. This is supposed to be a professional military, not a frat house.

I have written about this when it first came out, so I will keep it short here. ONE, AND I REPEAT ONE: falling asleep multiple times while on guard duty. So anyone can walk right on in and do what ever to everyone else. Two: if a squad, section, or platoon can fix problem children at their own level then that it what they should try to do. And yes sometimes that means not only getting your dick stepped on but also broken. Three: oh my.... boot camp is so hard and stressful. We must make it shorter, more happy, even have quality time with your Drill Instructors were (amazed shock) they even remove their smokey and don't yell at you. As I have said before boot camp has been neutered. One should get stressed and freaked the f**k out when there so he does not have issues when the s**t hits the fan. Like I said I'll keep it short here. So I'll move this one up to number four. Four: All the lone feelings, the cast out gloom, the so few orientals around. Bull s**t.... He was out in Hawaii, I did my time out there too. Whites and blacks were the minority out there. I am oriental and never had a problem. Then again my boot camp was 16 weeks long so maybe I had and edge. Maybe because I was brought up old school oriental ways as a kid I never had it easy. Maybe because you look out for your fellow brothers instead of copping zzz's on them and hanging their six to the wind I had it easy. Or then all you Libs can just call me a cold bastard and say I don't know s**t about feelings. I do feel sorry he felt he needed to punch out of life early, I really do. Now... what would all of you be saying if he just got bumped on the grape and all his brothers got wasted because he was sleeping again???? You have records of him doing this and now it cost everyone. Let me guess.... Oh the poor boy. Now he has to live with the fact that he got every one killed. We must do some thing beyond nice to help him grieve. Some times you pfc's make me sick. That's non military pfc's. Oh yeah, and maybe I was just lucky and had it easy because the only color my unit had, was green. Anyone can sit on that high horse. Try and run him, then let's see if you can stay on. And last and for the record, I do not hate Chen. He at least had the balls to join in the first place and try to make a difference. For that, I can respect him for trying, and will.

If you have an employee with poor performance, you fire them. Your staffing issues are simply that- your issues.

D.DogUSMC - You know D-Dog, I usually respect the opinion of my Devil-Dog brothers, but not this time. You're answer's too easy, just beat the sh!t out of him and he'll quit falling asleep. B***S**T. If he falls asleep in a tactical situation while on guard duty...GET RID OF HIM LEGALLY! You don't risk the lives of your troops to prove you can "take care of business"! If you have to prove it, you can't do it. Get him gone...period. Don't jeopardize your troops or their morale by screwing with this guy. If the Docs and shrinks find a medical problem...fine, not your concern. just get him gone and move out!

Ol_Doc, I have been out for some time now. You put OL so maybe you have also. When you have people nowadays that cry over the drop of a hat (cover) you can't just transfer them out. That is not PC. There is not, never has been, and never will be any thing wrong with trying to fix a problem with some simple PT. Now what you also have to realise is just how much simple PT becomes the death march when schmucks in the main stream press write their story. In my time we had a kid cry to mommy and daddy how unfair and miss treated he was. We even got a visit from a senator. Short of how GREAT of shape he was in from all the extra PT for being such a f*** up, we did no less then give him boot camp flash backs. When you read what was said about what we did to him, well h**l, I'ld of shot myself for being such a Meany. Anyway to the point.... you just can't s**t can some one for being a Pvt. Pyle. It's just not the PC thing to do.

Oh and one more thing Ol_Doc. The corpsmen I had would have PT him also. Getting your d**k stomped or broken during PT was just that. I never said to beat the s**t out of him. You must work for the lib press. At least that is what a couple of my old Doc's just emailed me back said.

D.DogUSMC

Oh and one more thing Ol_Doc. The corpsmen I had would have PT him also. Getting your d**k stomped or broken during PT was just that. I never said to beat the s**t out of him. You must work for the lib press. At least that is what a couple of my old Doc's just emailed me back said.

OK Dog...what got fixed? Kid should have never been a soldier, I agree. He endangered his fellow soldiers, I agree. Yes I've been out for a while. Retired in 99, originally went in in 69. And yes I've participated in GI Showers and Blanket Parties. In the end, you know how much good they did...none. If the Kid was f**ked up, he was f**cked up and beating the sh!t out of him didn't do a damn bit of good. By the way, what was accomplished in this incident? Kid's dead, Sergeant's career is toast. WTF's more important, getting results or playing Rambo? Oh and tell your Corpsman buddies extra pt's one thing, taking it the level where the SM commits suicide is something else. And if they, as Corpsmen couldn't recognize it and would still push him instead of replacing him, why were they corpsmen? My job as a Medic was to keep soldiers alive. Not just suicidal kids but troops who slept while an unstable kid was on guard duty. In other words, defend the rest of the platoon by getting rid of the danger. That's my 2 cents worth but what do I know, I'm just an old grunt medic.

then keep em sheltered at home.Wake up!! This is military training not prep week at college.DAMN

As the mother of a Marine (Iraq & Somalia), the wife of Marine (Viet Nam) and the daughter-in-law of a Marine (WWII-wounded on Iwo Jima), I would hope that my son or daughter were properly trained AND properly cared for. It appears Pvt Chen may have had some issues--that he did should have been identified by his sergeant and other methods taken. Perhaps, the military was not the appropriate place for Pvt Chen and he should have been discharged. He never should have been harassed and bullied until he killed himself. What did that accomplish for the military?

My son served with Sgt. Holcomb and he saved my son's life. I know for a fact my son trusts him and so do I.

I cannot believe the BS the press has made this out to be. The TRUTH is that Pvt. Chen NEVER should have deployed!!! The signs were there and IGNORED before he set foot in Afghanistan!!!

What FACTS were BS from the press????

This verdict says Sgt Holcomb is a racist piece of crap. I am sure he saved your white sons a$$ before he'd give a thought to saving an "egg roll"-Holcomb pet name for Chen.

Justice was NOT served here. But will be a b!tch for this b!tch soldier.

Verdict says he's a racist=press got it right. But the sentence is a joke. Karma will be a b!tch.

I am sure Holcomb saved your white sons a$$. But he'd let an "egg roll" (Holcomb pet name for Chen) die.

steveo-He was NOT charged with being a racist......in fact Chen was NOT the only Chinese person in the Co. another thing the press left out of the story. In FACT there was another Chinese soldier who DID serve in this platoon from time to time, he rotated from platoon to platoon as needed.

and general discharge.

why is everybody crying over this pantywaist?? he had bigger problems than this sgt "picking on him" U people need to get a life

Perhaps you should take your own advice on getting a life... and perhaps a clue.

semperfid -

If you're a typical example of what the marines turn out I'm deeply alarmed for our country.

I take it your idol is Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men?

Marines are the reason u have this country. A simple thanks will do

And I'm the nurse that keeps you alive - a simple thanks will do. You may want to believe you alone keep the world turning but you're not alone. Look around you. By the way, Jack Nicholson is an actor and A Few Good Men is a fictional movie.

I have to agree in part with you semper. Being a combat vet myself, you can't expect people to truly understand the dynamics of warfare. It isn't that Brad Pitt comedy of some Hollywood make believe. People don't understand the fact that a weak link is a death sentence to a squad. They don't get the fact that a sentry who is asleep on post is a wide open gate. They don't understand and probably never will that countless lives rests in the hands of just 1 kid standing watch.

The citizens of our country don't understand it because they have never had to live it. While I may not have been a Marine, I have had more than my fair share of hot LZs, up close and personals, and even the breeches that come from a weak link. They don't understand in the field, in the sht, is not the time to figure out what is wrong with little Johnny. The only thing people are thinking about is not getting their asses shot off because of some jack wagon who as a severe case of cranal-anal insertion. Yes, there are other ways and means to remove problem children from a deployment, but as you said, and what people DON'T GET, is IF YOU can not keep your troops in line, it is a reflection on you. And a combat zone is no place to play patty cake.

Kelly it takes hard men and women to keep the country safe. There are few, if any times where hand holding, choruses of Kumbaya can solve a problem in the field. PT and sht duty is meant to "motivate" the troop into bringing his act into compliance, just as much as it is as a punishment. Ask a troop if they would rather have an Art 15 on their record or crawl a pit of sht instead, and I guarentee you, you won't believe your nose. Ask any troop if they would rather be courtsmartialed for an Article 92 and 134 offense or be drug around by their ankles. I can guarentee you, you will find those troops flat on their backs with their feet in the air. Is it right? It depends on your perspective. But the one thing you have to keep in mind is what if it was your kid or your spouse that gets killed as a result of this Poor Poor Slacker coppin Zs on post. You gonna be happy? Gonna wanna give him a hug and say it's ok? I think not.

Yes people, we have all gotten soft, just like our waistlines with the politically correct bull crap. We all need to toughen up a bit. In today's society, we are just too damned touchy feely for our own good. Keep in mind, our enemies don't give a damn about "time out" or play "do over". They are in the business of finding and exploiting the weak link. And the weaker the link, the greater the damage. Think about 9-11. Think about our damned arrogance about how it will never ever happen here was until we got cold cocked square in the beak. Then consider where the enemy comes from. Human rights and playing nice don't mean jack squat to them. They don't have the same value of life we do here, and our softie, hanging on momma's tit is the easiest weakness they can exploit. And to be honest, I wouldn't want a wussy standing watch while I slept. Give me the cold, heartless, mean bastard on that wall, any day of the week, and I will sleep like a baby...

Thank you sir

????????

Sounds to me like you watch too many made for TV movies.

Oh Lisa - you are a piece of work!

Lisa, if I thought you were serious I'd call the suicide prevention hot-line on your behalf. You are obviously a greater threat to yourself than others.

It's not "normal mistreatment by superiors" of "this country's armed forces". It's converting a normal kid into a warrior (which is by definition and unnatural act). It's clear your cute little hippie a$$ can't appreciate the need to try and prepare people to go to war, but consider that it prevents you from having to do something so distasteful.

What happened to this kid doesn't sound like the "normal program" for maintaining discipline. What was required was leadership, not abuse. I have to admit, I wasn't there and don't normally like to pass judgement on hearsay, but it doesn't sound right.

u need to go ahead and put that gun to ur head

Lisa, The Army is a better place now that Don't Ask Don't Tell was removed.

Major, Steve D.

They've pretty much discontinued summary execution for that these days. Perhaps he should have received a court marshal, at least that would have been legal, the kid would probably be alive and the Sergeant wouldn't be going to prison.

Yea, just like it was proven that OJ Simpson didn't murder his wife. #sarcasm-ftw

Yeah, about the best we can hope for is that Sgt. Adam Holcomb comes home from his next tour in a coffin...without the flag draped over it.

First off, being found not guilty (not innocent, like the article said) is not the same has having been proved innocent. Second, he was found guilty of mistreating a subordinate.

No Dick Wad Rob Army Guy, he wasn't found innocent, you must not have read the article. What people are bemoaning is the lightness of the punishment due to the very serious breach of discipline shown by the leaders that Chen served under.

AMEN

Was Sgt. Holcomb a hard ass? He sure was and I am grateful for that because Sgt. Holcomb saved my son's life. My son was pinned during a firefight, his weapon jammed, he did not have any firepower, to fightback or move from his location up front. Sgt. Holcomb by himself went to my son's position to provide cover for him to fix his weapon and move. He also went into the fire to rescue another soldier who's leg was blown off by and IED. They remained under attack even while the Medivac chopper came. Sgt. Holcomb braved the bullets to get this soldier on the chopper. I will take a crappy nickname all day long to have my kid come back alive.

Everyone here keeps saying, Why didn't they just court martial Chen out. Sounds easy doesn't it. Well have any of you thought that maybe he THOUGHT he was going to be CM'd....having that on his record for the rest of his.....preventing him from getting a job with the NYPD like he wanted after the Army?

You're right, if the Platoon leader knew what was going on then it was his responsibility to address the problem.

I'm more inclined to believe he was killed and covered with suicide. If he was once beaten to unconciousness and left on his own its more likely the bloodthirsty "brothers" got even more carried away. They knew they'd be covered. The guy at the top couldn't even lead his own men....he just let them go without rules. Never would I trust my life with people like this. From top to bottom, they are all guilty.

Someone needed more hugs from their mommy and everything would have been alright I suppose. But mommy was not in Afghanistan now was she?

No, and neither was a functional leader. If you need to can his ass...can his ass. But do it legally. A nice Court Marshal get's him gone...no one dies because he fell asleep and leadership couldn't think of any thing to do but screw with him. Part of leadership is tactical problem solving. Court Marshal...kid stays alive...NCO doesn't go to prison...troops don't get shot in their sleep. Simple problem simply solved. Complicating it doesn't make you macho...it makes you stupid, and maybe dead.

To blame someone else for a person who was insane enough to take his own life is ludicrous. Though it is a little harsh, I think S&W has a point. Court Marshal and the kid stays alive does not make sense? More like Court Marshal and the kid kills himself. A Court Marshal would have protected the chain of command if you think about it....

So tell me Mr. Anderson, how many suicide interventions have you done? Suicide is an act committed at an acute moment of desperation and/or despair. Based on 10 years of experience as an Army Medic, 8 years as a Paramedic and 5 Years on a military reintegration team; I would have to error on the side of the court marshal. Getting him out of the situation he was in would allow for some cooling off and perhaps a psychiatric evaluation. He might have died anyway but he didn't necessarily have to. And the Sergeant didn't necessarily have to go to prison and trash his career.

As to your comment regarding a person "who is insane enough to take his own life"; one veteran takes his/her life every 80 minutes. One service member takes his/her life every day. Are they all insane? I really hope if you are a veteran, you don't one day find yourself being one of those 80 minutes. Most people never thought they'd commit suicide either.

Sgt. Chen had issues at Fort Wainwright BEFORE deployment.......the thinking was....oh well. Send him on!

As a fellow veteran I totally agree that Pvt Chens leadership failed him and the Sgt, Platoon Sgt and Platoon leader should have faced a courts martial and sentenced to brig time. Sad thing about the military. They don't go after all involved just 1 person and they are usually way down in the chain of command. Have to pray that this never happens again..

Does a drill sergeant hold your hand in the military now?

Mr Anderson-3157404

Does a drill sergeant hold your hand in the military now?

1 Veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes.
1 Service Member commits suicide every 24 hours.
Are they all wussies Mr. Anderson?
Do you suspect there may be a problem Mr. Anderson?
Or should we have simply kicked all of their asses? ...Mr. Anderson

Ol Doc, there are now washouts anymore. You can leave Basic at anytime without a scar on your record. You DO get to change your mind. Yelling and smokings are limited in basic now......8 hrs. of sleep mandatory......like you are going to get 8 hrs. in a combat zone! Basic is now Low Stress to keep the attrition rate low. Believe it or not......you can get a medical profile for sore feet!!!

BlueStarMom-2801537 - Yes I do believe it. I was serving when the all volunteer force was transitioning in. I also don't approve of it. It's just like during the surge when the military dropped their enlistment standards for moral issues. Now that the draw down is going on, they won't even accept waivers. Everything is based on numbers and how to get there. This is only one of the reasons I am in favor of reinstating the draft. Not the old draft where if mommy and daddy have enough money they can get you out. I mean NO deferments beyond physical and mental. You're going to college...tough sh!t, it well be waiting for you. Also you don't have to raise or lower standards to get enough recruits. Screen the undesirables out and provide proper real-world training for the rest.

Ol_Doc

I am definitely there with you. At least in Vietnam it was mostly 1 and done, now they're exposed to 3 to 6 rotations, maybe 2 in a single enlistment. Meanwhile the well to do skip merrily on their way, never having to share the burden of the defense of the country and later legislating against benefits for the ones who do answer the call.

Maybe he expected a professional military and responsible, competent superiors. Not Neidermier from Animal House.

Really Mug...what's the deal? What's OK and what's over the line?

Woman joins the military she should expect to be raped? Because it's a guy thing? Superiors shouldn't be held accountable cause...what? They've earned their stripes?

"Know's the deal" huh? What year did you complete basic? If it was after the 1969 Senate Investigations...you got no idea what the deal is!

So SGT Snorkel doesn't get punished for beating up Beetle Bailey and Beetle frags his ass and takes out the entire squad. Is that part of "the deal" too?

BigBaldGuy -

Let me guess - you were picked on for your hairline?

He's not an officer. He's enlisted.

He could be a non-commissioned officer!

BigBaldGuy

He could be a non-commissioned officer!

He was a Sergeant (E-5) so, yea...he could be a non-commissioned officer. Also your comment above #20, he shouldn't have to run to the JAG. Depending on the location of the FOB, might not be one readily available. The situation required leadership. The kid fell asleep on guard duty (from what I've read more than once, very serious sh!t). That should have been red flag to leadership to get rid of the kid (legally). It's a court marshal offense and that would have gotten him gone. He would be alive (probably), the Sergeant wouldn't be going to prison (probably), and his unit would be killed in their sleep while he slept on guard duty. Simple problem simply solved...it's called leadership.

Again! You see the press only gives you part of the story!! They were moving him! Unfortunately a convoy could not be sent at the drop of a dime. The ENTIRE AO was undermanned. You could not travel in the area WITHOUT a convoy. He was due to be sent to HQ the next day!!

Sgt. Holcomb saved my son's life. Would you run into gun fire to save someone?

PFCs and REMFs..... thank you for your time done. There will never be a big enough band-aid for the bleeding heart lib. Just lock and load and keep your head down.

Kid should have been court marshaled, the Sergeant F/U and you two are making excuses for him. Who's the bleeding heart?! And yea Neal, I did 20 too. The difference is that if I had a kid endangering my squad by violating the UCMJ, I'd use it to get him replaced. I guess you could always disappear him, but you'd probably spend a little longer in the stockade. Beating his ass might make you feel better but it won't solve the problem (usually). Legally getting him gone will.

If this sort of behavior is rampart in a war zone than there is a serious problem. You're supposed to have each other's back. The enemy is not another American GI. I'm a military brat. I know this sort of behavior isn't tolerated. Even at my DoD school overseas 3 decades ago, if you were racist, you were very lonely and probably got beat up a lot since that's how kids handle problems.

You should read the links above about "Army reveals sensitive materials..." His cousin had also joined the service, probably following in Danny's footsteps as he was still in basic training. Danny told his cousing that he was dealing with this racist talk nonesense all throughout the day and was running out of jokes to come back at them. He probably didn't know how to handle it because he probably didn't want to get anyone in trouble. Here's are segment from that story:

"Chen decided he wanted to become a police officer after being the victim of an attack following the family's move into the housing project on the Lower East Side several years ago from Chinatown -- the bustling, busy playground of his youth. Some boys chased him for blocks, calling him "Chinese." During the attack, he was punched in the head and his glasses were broken. A bystander intervened and called the police, but Danny said he did not want to press charges."

'Danny said ... (they're) very young so maybe it's very bad for them" in the future if they have a record, his aunt, Lucy Chen, recalled him saying. Tapping her chest, she said of Chen: 'The heart is very good.'

He was clearly the kind of good-hearted person this world needs. If he was not this kind of person, who knows? He could've turned his weapon on his platoon so that's something for bullies to think about.

WHAT'S really sad is that he VOLUNTEERED TO JOIN THE ARMY knowing he could be sent to the war.

This kind of harassment and hazing and humiliation goes on not only in basic - where you might expect it - but at the stateside duty stations as well. Sergeants force guys to "mop" the floors with their stomachs in straight bleach until they are chemically burnt. Sergeants laugh while forcing the guys to crouch down and duck walk through the parking lot 17 times in the Texas heat while laughing and the guy's tendons are being ruined. It's a crying shame that the leadership is a total failure! I would never, ever recommend today's sad Army to anyone thinking of joining this volunteer force. Want 3 squares and a place to live? Go to prison. You will surely be treated better than in our Army! I am an Army veteran myself, and sadly, talked my child into joining. The enlisted "leadership" is a joke! Where are the officers? No one seems to want to speak up when witnessing abuse.

Ol Doc, they were having him replaced!!! However, HQ could not drop everything to go get him......A convoy was needed to travel to the COP!

The OCA-NY has set the narrative for this debacle! It was they with the help of politicans that jumped the gun and FORCED the Army to take action BEFORE the investigation was over! Press didn't tell you that did it? One of the lead investigators KICKED OUT of the Army for impersonating someone else to pressure the witnesses into giving tainted testimony!!!

You have all been led to believe that Pvt. Chen was constantly picked on which is a LIE!! He had a good relationship with his fellow Privates, however EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM testified that he could not function as an Infantryman and was dangerous!! It had NOTHING whatsoever to do with race! Yeah, he had a nickname and so did EVERY SINGLE PERSON THERE!!! Some a lot worse than Dragon Lady!!!

All of you armchair generals, tell me what you do when a soldier consistently walks around without his weapon cleared? How about repeatedly showing up for details late? Showing up without protective gear? Falling asleep on guard duty? Oh, and btw, ANYONE regardless of their race was smoked for falling asleep on guard duty......but the difference is.......it never happened again! I ask you Armchair generals, what do you do when a soldier arrives at their details unprepared over and over again? To have a soldier fall out from Heat Stroke on patrol is preventable IF that soldier is prepared and has proper hydration. It is a basic skill, it is ingrained in you in Basic training.

Let me ask you Arm chair generals......You are in a Combat Zone and you are at 50% manpower, due to casualties......When a new soldier arrives as a replacement do you have even the slightest expectation that they can operate their weapon....especially if the soldier is assigned to a rifle squad in the Infantry? How about the other equipment?

He was there at total of 48 days!!! The press makes it sound like they jumped him the minute the got there which is a LIE!!! They tried EVERYTHING and EVERY task to get him to be a useful part of the platoon!!! For some reason, he could not even pull from his training at basic. He was well like but anyone there will tell you he was dangerous to himself and others........they had enough on their plate worrying about the Taliban taking them out!

Was he smoked? YES!! As were several others there.......the difference, once smoked you did NOT repeat the same mistakes.......MISTAKES GET YOU OR YOUR BUDDIES KILLED!!!

Sgt. Adam Holcomb was an NCO in a Rifle Squad on the Front lines, not on a huge base with a Starbucks! His job was to fight the enemy and keep his men ALIVE! It was not his job to be a Fairy God Mother! Sound harsh? Yep, but your child arriving via Dover is harsh too.

Sgt. Adam Holcomb was convicted of one count of maltreatment. I think everyone can agree that being dragged out of the bed was not corrective, that was just being angry!! Angry at the fact that the makeshift shower was broken and Pvt. Chen went to SLEEP INSTEAD OF TELLING ANYONE!! The water was seeping to the radio room......the RADIO's were the ONLY communication these guys had for those outside the wire and for help if they were over run!!! Yes, Sgt. Holcomb will do jail time for displaying raw human emotion in a very volatile situation that could have had a disastrous outcome for ALL OF THOSE MEN!!

Army Strong Mom, I too and an Army Mom, 2 sons serving active duty in the Infantry.....Do your job and you don't get smoked.

A new soldier arrived at my son's duty station......first day he shows up late for formation......he was warned verbally. 2nd day he shows up late and he was smoked. The other guys in the platoon told him.....if you are on time you are late.....get here early! The next day he is late again......the rest of the platoon was smoked until they puked while he sat there watching! He was never late again!

You slack you endanger everyone!

BlueStarMom

All of you armchair generals, tell me what you do when a soldier consistently walks around without his weapon cleared? How about repeatedly showing up for details late? Showing up without protective gear? Falling asleep on guard duty? Oh, and btw, ANYONE regardless of their race was smoked for falling asleep on guard duty......but the difference is.......it never happened again! I ask you Armchair generals, what do you do when a soldier arrives at their details unprepared over and over again? To have a soldier fall out from Heat Stroke on patrol is preventable IF that soldier is prepared and has proper hydration. It is a basic skill, it is ingrained in you in Basic training.

No Madam, I'm not an armchair general. I'm a retired US Army Sergeant First Class and former Medic.
1. Please thank your son or daughter for their service to our Country.
2. As a former Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Staff NCO, and Recruiter, please do not presume to tell me how it is.
3. An NCO has two prime directives: 1) Accomplish the Mission 2) Take care of Soldiers. To recognize (as you stated) that this young man was incapable of functioning as an Infantryman and yet deploying him, thereby placing his fellow soldiers in additional danger was irresponsible. The system of tasks and testing is designed to catch individuals who are incapable of functioning as soldiers, admin discharging them to clear the slot and recruiting into that slot.

Your comment regarding heat stroke for instance is only partially accurate. The soldier's Squad Leader is responsible to not only order his subordinates properly equip themselves, he is directly responsible to perform an equipment check on his squad. As an NCO, you never assume your soldiers are responsible enough to act responsibly. That's why YOU are accountable for their actions. It's called the "chain of command" for a reason.

Ultimately this young man took his own life so I guess you could say he took responsibility for his actions (if you consider death the ultimate responsibility). I have no idea what drove him to join in the first place. It's clear he was not cut out to be a soldier. This is something that should have been recognized either during basic, AIT or at the unit. My concern is not the the system failed HIM personally. My concern is that the system failed everyone in his unit. By deploying a psychologically unstable individual to and Infantry squad, the entire squad was endangered unnecessarily.

Exactly right! The command told HQ from the very beginning he was NOT suited for the COP. They were so undermanned they kept him there, figuring somebody is better than nobody and they could train him up. He was NOT the only Pvt there who needed to be trained up.....the others did NOT resort to killing themselves. They DID have other soldiers there that could not go outside the wire because they could not handle it. The other replacement soldiers were able to adapt and hit the ground running. The learning curve there was steep. They had already lost half of the platoon to IED's and small arms fire. They were so short on bodies that if you were injured, you rested and went right back. Some in that platoon have multiple Purple Hearts.

If anything, this should bring attention to the training and weeding out process. We are at WAR!