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This is a trajic article that underscores why regulations MUST be followed in todays military and why attention to detail will save or lose lives
Quote:
Drill instructor caught on tape striking 19-year-old
An autopsy revealed 19-year-old Jason Tharp drowned last week during water survival training at the Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, S.C.
Video shot on Feb. 7, the day before Tharp's death, by NBC affiliate WIS-TV in Columbia, S.C., shows Tharp, visibly shaken and almost terrified, taking a forearm shot from a Marine drill instructor.
In the Marines only five weeks, Tharp had written seven letters home telling his family he wanted out. His father, John Tharp, claims Jason had been singled out by drill instructors because he couldn't keep up with the rigorous basic training.
"I don’t know how they could treat my son the way we saw on that video," says Tharp. "He never hurt nobody. He'd do anything anybody asked him."
During last week's training, Tharp, seen on the WIS-TV video, at first refused to get into the water.
"He's just afraid because he is not able to do the swim correctly right now, and he just wants to leave and go home," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Davis on the Feb. 7 videotape.
After 20 minutes of trying to coax Tharp into the pool, the drill instructor turned physical in apparent violation of Marine Corps regulations — striking Tharp across the chest.
"That right there, where this Marine grabs the recruit, this is not how you treat recruits," said Eugene Fidell, the president of the National Institute of Military Justice, when NBC News showed him the video. "I mean, this is a wrongful touching. Basically, it's an assault."
Marine Corps officials say Tharp voluntarily entered the pool the next day, where he drowned during a 25-meter swim. Officials also say there's no early evidence of any misconduct by Marine instructors at the time Jason drowned, but the conduct caught on camera the day before raises questions about exactly what happened in that pool.
Jason's father is considering a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Marines.
"We just want justice for Jason," says Tharp. "To get some kind of bill passed to where this won't happen to another family."
The Navy and Marines are investigating Jason's death and the conduct of the drill instructors who were supposed to protect him.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6988854/
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Unfortunately it seems there are drownings every year at one of the boot camp bases. Dang near every time, the family blames the Marine Corps directly.
It will be interesting to see how the investigation of his death goes.
The DI~ his career is most likely over. What a dumb ass to do something like that, and then to have a camera there. Reminds me of worlds dumbest criminals.
It shouldn't have happened. Those directly responsible should be dealt with and punished severely. The DI's career over? I hope he does time for murder.
this is the first I have heard of this. I do not understand how the drowning happened. There are always so many people around the pool waiting to fish you out if you are struggling. Where were that at on this day? A far as teh DI hittinghim that was stupid on his part and he will be punished for his actions. Sometimes they just do not hink before there actions. In this case teh DI let his emotions get thebest of him. I am curious to know who the DI was I know a few down that way. He will not do time for murder, becase it is not his responsability once they get into that pool it is the responsability of teh water survival trainers at that point. He will be charged for hitting the kid though, but I do not think the hitting of the kid ahad anything to do with his drowning. It said he got in voluntarily the next day. yeah he probably got in out of fear, but at that point it is the water survival trainers job to make sure he is safe.
If he wasn't able to cut it, they should have released him. What a shame to lose a young man like this.
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Point/Counterpoint
02-18-2005, 00:31
Marines probe boot camp drowning 
