Soldier died of alcohol poisoning. Was anyone else to blame?

[noamnety]

Source: Stars and Stripes

MANNHEIM, Germany — Seven soldiers and two civilians implicated in the hazing of Spc. Donald Anthony Wilder were either not charged or had most of their punishments suspended for the crime.

Even though a criminal investigation found that the nine men had committed the offense, just one soldier, a specialist, lost rank. The only two other soldiers punished received written reprimands and had to perform 45 days of extra duty.

According to documents obtained by Stars and Stripes, Army investigators determined that a group of nine men hazed Wilder and two other soldiers during a Masonic initiation on Jan. 7, 2006. The ranks of the soldiers involved ranged from specialist to sergeant first class.

Hours after the ceremony, Wilder was declared dead in his Mannheim barracks. His cause of death was determined as alcohol poisoning. His wounds from the hazing did not contribute to his death, according to the autopsy.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53349

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There are a number of links to articles in today's Stars and Stripes about this: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53348

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Two weeks ago I met a local vet through the IVAW who was talking - and sometimes not talking - about how bad the hazing was for him.

[Mike Nelson]

1. Yes, The Butcher of Washington...

GWB

[noamnety]

2. I think it's important to realize

that the problems with militarism run deeper than just the current administration (though he's certainly embraced the death cult mentality).

[ohio2007]

3. a drinking man with a soldiering problem. Not much different then a future spring break story

of a drinking man with a college problem

[grytpype]

4. Masons don't "haze," something is really wrong here

[noamnety]

5. The guy I referred to at the end of the OP

he's on winter soldier right now talking about the hazing.

http://ivaw.org/