Dead Soldier From Chinatown Believe He May Have Been Harassed And Beaten

Family Of Dead Soldier From Chinatown Believe He May Have Been Harassed And Beaten
October 11, 2011

Reporting Cindy Hsu

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There is more heartbreak for a family from Chinatown whose son died in Afghanistan.

Private Danny Chen died last week at just 19. He was found in his barracks with non-combat injuries. On Tuesday, CBS 2′s Cindy Hsu met with his parents at the American Legion in Chinatown.

Chen’s mother was in tears as she showed pictures of her son, who dreamed of serving in the military since he was a child. What makes the heartbreak even more painful is what the family found out shortly after learning of his death.

Through a translator his parents said someone within their son’s unit told the family that Chen had been beaten up by fellow soldiers.

Translator Frank Gee said the family was told that Chen was “harassed and beaten up by six soldiers.”

The family said they were told it was over Chen not shutting off the water, but his father had been concerned Chen faced race problems in the Army and had asked his son about it.
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