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Marines to Be Court-Martialed for Hazing

Humiliated fellow Marine shot himself in Afghanistan

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2011 3:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – Three Marines accused of hazing a fellow Marine so harshly that he committed suicide are to be court-martialed, the Marine Corps says. Harry Lew, a 21-year-old from Hawaii, shot himself in a foxhole in Afghanistan earlier this year after he was allegedly attacked and humiliated by the trio. The three Marines face charges including hazing, assault, cruelty and maltreatment, and dereliction, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

At a hearing last month, Marines from the same unit testified that the three accused punched and kicked Lew, forced him to do push-ups and other exercises in full combat gear, and poured sand in his face. The accused Marines argued that they were angry with Lew because he had fallen asleep on guard duty at a remote base in Afghanistan four times in 10 days, endangering the unit. After Lew's death commanders said that the sleeping may have been a sign that he was suffering from depression or some other medical condition, AP notes.

Harry Lew shot himself in a foxhole on April 3 of this year.
Harry Lew shot himself in a foxhole on April 3 of this year.   (US Military)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
Kookey90
Oct 27, 2011 6:33 PM CDT
This whole thing is tragic, but “falling asleep on guard duty at a remote base in Afghanistan four times in 10 days, endangering the unit !”. Unless you’ve been in combat you have no understanding of as to how serious an issue this is; Aside from letting your buds down, people get killed because of this stupidity. In’ 70 I followed my Company Commander and First Sergeant as they did their unannounced nightly inspection of our perimeter. The First Sergeant caught one guard asleep and broke his jaw; he’s lucky he didn’t kill him – case closed! Sorry about this young marine killing himself, but four times falling asleep on guard duty is just too much. It should have never happened after the first time without his chain of command having taken some action (I.E. put another marine along side him during guard duty - buddy system).
GeminiMishy
Oct 27, 2011 9:55 AM CDT
There is something seriously wrong with a unit that would allow this to happen four times by the same Marine in the first place. What he did was incredibly dangerous and put all of his fellow men at risk but this was handled horribly. There should have never been a third, let alone fourth time for him to make such a grievous mistake.  It is sad he took his own life, but I have to honestly ask the question: Had he not, how long would this have been allowed to continue and what would be the potentially deadly results for the unit? Shameful on all accounts. Court martial the men, and find out where the failing was in leadership that let things get this bad.
radarlove
Oct 27, 2011 9:14 AM CDT
"After Lew's death commanders said that the sleeping may have been a sign that he was suffering from depression or some other medical condition, AP notes." It's too bad that (1) commanders didn't figure out what the fuck was wrong with the guy since he couldn't stay awake at his post and (2) the guy didn't shoot the three assholes harassing him instead of offing himself.

 
US military • hazing • Marine Corps • Harry Lew

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