Diane asked me to post this story: Soldier’s Death Raises Suspicions in Chinatown. It’s sad. Private Danny Chen died of a gunshot wound, and the army is saying that it may have been a suicide, even though many people don’t believe he was suicidal. There is evidence that Chen was racially harassed while serving. They are conducting an investigation into his death.
The article says:
For decades, Asian-Americans have had an uneasy relationship with the military, enlisting at lower rates than other ethnic groups.
Many Asian-American families have emphasized higher education and white-collar occupations, rather than the armed services, as a way to get ahead in America, experts say. The dearth of high-profile Asian-Americans in the upper echelons of the military may have also discouraged enlistment.
There’s probably a lot of truth here. Hopefully the investigation will be thorough and accurate.
“Private Chen kept a journal while deployed, relatives said, but military investigators have so far shared only three pages of it with the family. On one, a cartoonish face with an angst-ridden expression is scrawled alongside the misspelled message: “Watever happens happens.”
On another, a list of notes, in what looks like Private Chen’s handwriting, describes procedural failures, including “Didn’t clear weapon,” “Didn’t hydrate,” and “No attention to detail (little things).”
Relatives said they had no idea what to make of the pages. The military’s decision to release them while retaining the rest of the journal has only added to their bewilderment.”
The military wants to portray Danny Chen as a weak-willed incompetent who brought it on to himself, so that the whole thing can either be swept under a rug, or if necessary, a small handful of guys directly responsible for his MURDER can be court martialled for manslaughter.
So this can distract from the fact that Danny was used as a punching bag by his entire company.
All the signs are there pointing to a full cover-up, such as the wall of silence the family is facing and all the people who daren’t and won’t talk to them. This wall of silence can come about only because of a directive, or because the severity of what Danny Chen went through is far bigger than what they want made public.
bigWOWO,
Danny Chen’s death is only six month after Marine Corps Lance Corporal Harry Lew took his own life in his foxhole in Afghanistan after he was kicked and punched by fellow Marines(http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/128243828.html).
I really want people here to know that Danny Chen had been beaten by superior officers and subjected to racially motivated taunts prior to his death. Please read this:
http://www.dnainfo.com/20111110/lower-east-side-east-village/cb3-sheldon-silver-push-for-investigation-into-chinatown-soldiers-death
The following paragraph is from the above article.
“Chen’s family said the military informed them that he had been beaten by superior officers and subjected to racially motivated taunts prior to his death, local leaders recounted at press conference last month. His cause of death has yet to be determined.”
Danny Chen’s parents are non-English speaking new immigrant. Danny Chen was their only child. What chance do you think that Danny Chen’s case will be resolved fairly? Who will fight for Danny Chen? At times like this. I really hope that someday we, Asian-Americans, will have someone like AL Sharpton(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Sharpton). In the 80′s, he was so vocal about everything. Almost everytime there was an inciddent that involves African-Americans, Al Sharpton would be there to lead the rallies. At that time, I remember thinking that he was so annoying. As time goes on, I am getting older and having been living in this country longer; I relized how much discrimation(some subtle and some are not so subtle) we Asians are facing everyday, especially Asian men. I realized that what we need is a vocal leader like AL Shparton, so our voice can be heard.
If one wants to get treated equal, one has to fight for it. No one is going to give you that right. I appreciate that you have created this blog space. so people like me can have a place to voice his/her opinions.
I really admire how united Jewish people are and how vocal gays, spanish-americans and african-americans are. Even Asian politian are less vocal.
Diane
Diane, regarding Harry Lew, the media are saying he committed suicide in a “foxhole”.
Actually, he was made to dig a TRENCH and get into it, where he subsequently died. Allegedly he committed suicide, in a trench he was forced to dig at gunpoint.
Does this picture seem familiar, guys? I am reminded of all those other people who had to dig trenches for themselves, then get down into it and subsequently die there.
@Diane
It’s funny though that a large number of (if not the majority) white guys think Al Sharpton is a racist or a terrorist (or both). Our closest one is probably Frank Chin.
Diane and N…
This all ties in with the “Female Take on Invisible Asian American Heterosexual Men” post. I tend to think that Asian-Americans will try to “shout-down” anyone from within the community who offers a different or alternative opinion. Just like Akrypti and bWW suggested on the other thread, people like Frank Chin and the Minority Militant are largely ignored or even attacked for their views.
To have an Al Sharpton type leader the community has to trust that an Asian man is capable of this type of activism, and that means trusting and believing in the masculinity of Asian men. I just don’t believe that Asian masculinity is trusted within the community and there is even some opposition to masculine Asian men – which is strange because as I wrote here we seem to unite behind aggressive and hyper-masculine Asian men, yet, there are many aspects of Asian-American culture that collude in the denigration of of our masculinity.
Commercially-driven writers or artists (of all kinds), and some aspects of Asian-American feminism have created an Asian-American culture and worldview that can only exist in the absence of Asian masculinity – hence the Al Sharptons, Frank Chins and Minority Militants are rejected.
^ I’ve just read your article, it’s well written and I agree with it.
P.S: Who is the Minority Militant anyway, what is he about, and why was he made outcast?
“that means trusting and believing in the masculinity of Asian men. I just don’t believe that Asian masculinity is trusted within the community and there is even some opposition to masculine Asian men”
Could it be because of the weak minds that have absorbed and formed negative associations with masculinity, such as masculinity being all about rape, wars, murders, slavery, subjugation of women et al?
Thanks for your words, Diane!
This probably the most difficult problem to crack because of the military’s secrecy. Even with other people, it’s hard to crack their secrets. We saw what happened with Pat Tillman–and Tillman was a celebrity! Hopefully the media and civil rights groups will keep the pressure on them so that someone steps forward with the truth.
Will the “truth” save future Asian American soldiers from Danny Chen’s fate?
Not unless it’s the type of truth that can stop future Abu Ghraibs and Bagram Air Bases from happening.
Cos that’s what it’s all about. Not just secrecy, but the kind of secrecy that allows incredible corruption and cruelty to thrive and be covered up.
You really did not think that once unleashed, this sort of thing could be directed at only the “other”, did you? It will come home to roost. There’s a hundred reasons for why the public needs to take a greater interest in what goes on in the military, and the “truth” is really underwhelming if people still need to believe the stories so much.
All of them just fucking stories.
This shit is fucking heart breaking . RIP Danny Chen. Yet Another Asian dies from racist taunts that escalates.
Lets face it. I’d be he was ridicule with all kinds of stereotypes including the small dicked stereotype that pervasive on the internet that even a 10 years old would know about. No point in Asian American joining the arm forces when the West can’t wait to get into a shooting war with Asia, or have Asian shoot at themselves. The old saying still rings true – make no sense for a black/asian/hispanic man to join a white man’s army fighting for white hegemony.
It’s interesting to read the perspectives here – I grew up as a Navy brat around lots of other Asian American (mostly Filipino) navy brats and am used to being around a lot of military people. Mark Munoz is another one Navy brat, btw. As a lifestyle, it had its plusses and minuses. I wrote about racism encountered by Navy men and that life style here:
http://www.8asians.com/2008/09/01/john-mccain-and-a-steward/
We also know a bunch of other Asian Americans, all Filipino, who went to Westpoint or are officers in other branches.
My father encouraged my brother to try for a service academy – probably motivated by a combination of his military background and the fact that he wouldn’t have to pay tuition. My brother declined. I decided against a military career (having thought some about ROTC) because of what I went through growing up in a military family. During the Vietnam war, my father would be away for up to nine months at time. On a recent visit to Hawaii, we spent time with a family friend, also Asian American, who is a senior officer working at Pearl Harbor. He gets to see his family four times a year. The Wife’s nephew is a dentist (many people join the military to have the military pay for dental or med school) and in the Army Reserve, and even as a dentist he got sent to Iraq. After dealing with a father who was away a lot when I was growing up, there was no way I want to miss my kids growing up.
Also, as one of our friends found out, the politics as you rise in the ranks is difficult. A family friend graduated from Westpoint, and he quit the army as a captain after his career stalled because he wasn’t good at playing politics. If you are honest and tell the truth about what happens, you can end up like General Antonio Taguba:
http://www.8asians.com/2007/08/22/born-in-the-phillipines-a-real-american-hero-major-general-antonio-taguba/
who ended up sacrificing his career to keep his integrity.
Jeff,
Thanks for sharing!
I think a lot of what people don’t remember (or don’t know) about military families is that the military member is gone for long stretches of time. It definitely takes a toll on family life. My father wasn’t military, but my grandfather was in the Merchant Marine, which made for similar absences.
You should definitely write that book, Jeff. If I ever get to the Bay Area, I can help you make audio recordings. Once this history is gone, it’s gone forever.
I posted a link about this guy a month ago. No one even bother to talk about him at the time, and now everybody is chiming in.
Most AAs could care less about what happened to him. He’s another sacrificial lamb to be forgotten, ignored, and mocked, as the AA community continues to chase the American dream, and find ways to settle score with the interracial dating disparity.
I did read that link actually, and dug into a few other articles.
I hope I was not the only one.
@Chr.. , @Raguel and Everyone,
I know you all care. Please help Danny Chen by signing the following petition:
http://www.oca-ny.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:letter-to-the-secretary-of-the-army&catid=54:active-petitions&Itemid=79
The petition is led by OCA-NY. According to the following article (in Chinese, unfortunately, I couldn’t find any English news reporting the development of Danny Chen’s case), a group of Asian American organizations led by OC-NY including Japanese American Citizens League and Asian American Justice Center will meet with Thomas Lamont and Thomas Bostick from Pentagon on 12/14/2011.
http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_news/16696572/article-%E6%9F%A5%E9%99%B3%E5%AE%87%E6%9A%89%E6%AD%BB%E5%9B%A0-%E7%A4%BE%E5%8D%80%E4%BB%A3%E8%A1%A8%E8%B5%B4%E5%9C%8B%E9%98%B2%E9%83%A8?
Also, a candle light vigil will be held on 12/15/2011 in NYC. And is a link to the youtube video about Danny Chen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeboQ7zTLas
I am emailing my friends and family to sign the above petition. Hope that you all can do the same. Thank you.
Thanks, Diane! I just signed. It’s great that there’s an organization like the OCA that is making sure the military follows up on this.
Very sad. I just filled out the petition.
Not sure about Sharpton model though. He has been loud yes, but effective?
Listen to what Lil Wayne says at the end of Tha Carter III
(I am half joking…)
Diane, thank you for the links!
Well guys, this is it. There’s no use blabbing about things like “IR disparity” ad nauseum if you effectively shut up and take it like a punkass bitch anytime something major happens.
http://www.oca-ny.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:letter-to-the-secretary-of-the-army&catid=54:active-petitions&Itemid=79
^ Sign the petition up there, and also forward the link to people you know and ask them to sign it as well.
This is what your Freedom of Speech exists for, that the military likes to say they defend. It’s not purely symbolic. Its for us to make known that all members of our society, without exception, must act according to the social conscience, and will be held accountable to it. This is why democracy, as opposed to feudal rule, exists.
Diane,
Thank you as I signed the online petition. I first saw this on angry asian man blog so email and pressure him to post this too spread the work and get more people to sign it and perhaps get more people to protest his untimely death non combat related.
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2011/11/what-happened-to-private-danny-chen.html
http://oca-ny.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=50&Itemid=68
I have to say he was a good looking young man in uniform and I wonder in this day and age of a more multi-racial US army, why he was subject to racial taunts while he looked the typical clean cut assimlated US soldier. I saw the OCA tribute video on him and he looked like me when I was younger and not FOBBY looking. I am angry and sadden after watchin that well produced tribute video.
Diane Please also contact/email forward online petition link to other Asian/Chinese American leaders in power like
Congresswoman Judy Chu -CA who had to deal with her nephew Marine similar death
NYC Comptroller John Liu
Veterans Secretary (Ex Army General)Eric Shinseki
Ex Army General Antonio Taguba
and perhaps US Chinese ambassador Gary Locke
Please email or call to give it a try as I have your support as the Pentagon brass must conduct a full investigation.
@Diane, Thanks for the link.
Thanks, everyone for signing the petition.
If you didn’t get a chance to sign the petition yet, please sign the following petition to help Danny Chen:
http://www.oca-ny.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:letter-to-the-secretary-of-the-army&catid=54:active-petitions&Itemid=79
Thanks.
At least the OWS buffoons, those hated by Raguel are showing solidarity with his family!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45689613/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/
“those hated by Raguel” is a bit melodramatic, but now I shall hate them less. ^_^
Hi guys!
Have you heard about the NDAA Bill? Does indefinite detention without trial for American citizens sound like a good thing? Is it a good thing for that decision to be made at the sole discretion of the executive branch or military forces?
http://www.lawfareblog.com/2011/12/transcript-of-house-debate-on-the-ndaa/
Very sadly, just “voting” is no longer enough.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizens-battlefield-they-define-being
^ From the American Civil Liberties Union
Oh wait! I heard that it’s already on its way to Obama’s desk where he will SURELY sign it like the Council on Foreign Relations told him to.
LOL!!! So long guys, goodbye democracy.
I never thought I would see the day when a THIRD WORLD method of repression would take root in America. XD
Please Obama! Please please don’t sign it! Here is the chance for you to truly earn your Nobel Peace Prize.
http://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-set-to-become-law-the-terror-is-nearer-than-ever-2011-12
Aaah forget it. It’s all over.
Here’s an update on Pvt. Danny Chen:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/us/8-charged-in-death-of-fellow-soldier-us-army-says.html?_r=2&hp
This is very good news so far! These miscreants must be punished to the full extent of the law.
Two time Medal of Honor winner General Smedley Butler said that as a Marine “I was a goon for the National City Bank Boys on three continents.” He wrote the book War Is A Racket….which must be the only reason we are still in Afghanistan this long after the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Danny Chen and the others will NOT be forgotten…..placed there alongside Col. Theodore “Ted” Westhusing and Pat Tillman. Their individual and collective lives will serve a much greater purpose than that of narrow nationalism. May God grant your family peace and forever etch the hearts of the goons who surrounded him with remorse.
Will Carr
Corpus Christi, TX.
Good response by the Army as this has become big news nationally and not only a NY story. Now they should be court-martial and punished. Much credit to you Diane, Liz Ouyang from the OCA, NYC citycouncilwoman Margaret Chin and others who protest loudly and put the pressure on the Army to investigate and charge those culprits. Its good that strong Asian women speak up and defend a young good looking Asian man who was unjustly harassed because of his race. This is a lesson to you all other Asians who don’t protest and speak up and want to conform and assimiltate and not rock the boat in white American society. Now congresswoman Judy Chu must also put pressure on the Marines to investigate her nephew’s death which is similar to Danny Chen’s
Thank you, Will. The sacrifices of all our brave men and women will not be forgotten. These are our boys and girls, they will not be expended as if they were just materiel.
It won’t be up to us alone, but we’ll do our part to help make sure our soldiers are never sent into illegal wars and places they don’t belong.
“To have an Al Sharpton type leader the community has to trust that an Asian man is capable of this type of activism, and that means trusting and believing in the masculinity of Asian men. I just don’t believe that Asian masculinity is trusted within the community and there is even some opposition to masculine Asian men – which is strange because as I wrote here we seem to unite behind aggressive and hyper-masculine Asian men, yet, there are many aspects of Asian-American culture that collude in the denigration of of our masculinity”.
We could agree that PVT Danny Chen was bullied because of his lack thereof. The case surrounding his death remains to be a mystery, after they charged his superiors for his death which could be a coverup for something the army doesn’t want to get involved with. He’s yet another example of a defeated AM who is portrayed as small and weak. It’s rather unfortunate for all of us!
^ Your head ain’t screwed on right, pal.
You guys don’t get it. Did you sign that online petition chr, Raguel? The fact is it was the protests of strong Asian women like Liz Ouyang, Diane, NYC city council woman Margaret Chin and others who pushed the Pentagon to charge 8 fellow solidiers in Asian man death. Danny Chen was just a good looking young man trying assimlate in the US army only to get unwanted bulling and racial taunts. I am comforted by the by the fact when an unjust racial abuse happens to a young Asian man that the Asian civil rights group will speak protest and speak loudly in his defense. Where was NYC comptroller John Liu vocal protest? or ex generals VA secretary Eric Shinseki. There is a time where these government leaders have to play the cool passive assimlated managers and another where you just can’t bite your lips and protest a loud angry voice.
I dont care by what method is used or by who as long as someone speaks out so those animals are punished. Heres another recent one:
This time, the officer in charge of overseeing a racist death of a Chinese man who died after being punched in the head by a white teenager, got promoted
http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/family_s_fury_at_promotion_for_simon_san_death_detective_1_2007734
In an ideal world white neanderthals that murder innocent Chinese would be sent to Shenyang City Prison and let the CCP deal with them like they deal with all offenders. That’d teach future white offenders to think twice before even thinking of taunting another Chinese.
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