Chen, Danny

Danny Chen was born and raised in New York City's Chinatown. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2011, shortly after graduating from high school. He was assigned as an infantryman to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

On October 3, 2011, Chen was on guard duty at Combat Outpost Palace in the Panjwai district of Kandahar Province. According to the U.S. Army, he was found in a guard tower with a gunshot wound to the head. The Army later ruled his death a suicide.

Chen was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. His unit was stationed in Kandahar, a province that saw intense insurgent activity and was a focus of coalition operations.

Following his death, a U.S. Army investigation led to the court-martial of eight soldiers from his unit. They were charged with crimes including negligent homicide, assault, and hazing. Prosecutors alleged Chen had been subjected to physical abuse and racial slurs prior to his death. All eight were convicted of various lesser charges, receiving sentences ranging from demotion to imprisonment.

Chen's death drew attention to issues of hazing and racial discrimination within the military. In 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring him and calling for reforms to prevent hazing. His story has been documented in news reports, a play, and a PBS documentary.

Danny Chen was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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