deja vu of 1995-1998 hell
still mirror-evident in 2012 Danny Chen Trial
Photo via New York Times
Asian American activists and community members are voicing frustration and disappointment after Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb was acquitted of the most serious charges in the Danny Chen case on Monday.
Pvt. Chen committed suicide last year after allegedly being hazed, racially taunted and bullied by his superiors, including Sgt. Holcomb. After two-hours of deliberation, the 10-person jury of Army officers and enlisted soldiers found Holcomb not guilty of “negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, communicating a threat and hazing.” He was convicted of two counts of maltreatment and one count of assault consummated by battery, the New York Times reports.
In his defense, Holcomb apologized for his behavior but attributed it to mental illness, claiming “I know there’s issues up there.” He said, after multiple deployments to war zones like Afghanistan, he was showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The New York Times reported that the jury has recommended a 30-day prison sentence, which must then be approved by base commander Lt. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn. In addition, it has been suggested he be demoted one rank to specialist and pay a fine of approximately $1,180. Holcomb was originally facing a possible sentence of up to two years.
He is the first of eight soldiers to be charged and tried.
Margaret Chin of the New York City Council denounced the verdict in a statement, according to the Fort Bragg Patch. She said it was “very disappointing.”
“This decision is an affront to the Chen family and to servicemen and women across our country,” Chin said. “Never before has the pervasiveness of hazing and bullying in our armed forces been so exposed.”
Chin continued, saying, “Sgt. Holcomb physically and verbally abused Private Chen. His campaign of abhorrent and racist behavior was unrelenting, and it caused Private Chen’s death. By failing to uphold the most serious charges in this case, the military has effectively condoned Sgt. Holcomb’s conduct.”
Burgeoning student activists were moved by the outcome of the case to further awareness of the Asian American community. Sabrina Hua, a student at Hamilton College in New York, bused from New York to Fort Braggs with dozens of others to witness the trial and voice support for the Chen family.
Hua has been raising money to assist the Chen family in paying for travel and lodging costs throughout the duration of the trial.
“It’s good that we bring to light that this kind of behavior is not okay,” Hua said. “I was born here in America and I’m just as much American as others, but some people never see that.”
