Corps: Marine who died at Africa base wasn't hazed

Corps: Marine who died at Africa base wasn't hazed
By GENE JOHNSON
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 1, 2008; 5:16 PM

SEATTLE -- A Marine was not being hazed or abused when he collapsed and died on a base in Africa, but his superiors broke rules when they had him exercise as punishment for slightly injuring another Marine, a commander concluded.

Lance Cpl. Dustin Canham chose to do push-ups and other exercises to avoid having a black mark on his record and his death March 23 was due solely to a heart condition, said Lt. Gen. Samuel T. Helland, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, in a summary provided to Canham's father.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating Canham's death separately, but the Marine report includes some statements other Marines made to NCIS.

Canham, 21, of Lake Stevens, Wash., and a Marine private had been playing catch with a rock that day at the U.S. base in Djibouti, according to the documents. The private told investigators he looked away just before Canham threw the rock, which hit him in the mouth. It chipped his tooth, but the injury did not require medical attention.
click post title for more