This strange Right-wing site is the only place I have found anything

[frankly_fedup2]

about the young Marine, Jason Tharp, who drowned during Marine Water Training.

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/category/national_security/military_affairs/

I just want someone to explain to me how someone drowns, in an indoor swimming pool, with a whole group of other STRONG Marines around him. I do not believe it's possible.

The day before the video was shot without the Squad Leader's knowledge(that grabbed Tharp (not allowed), then knocked his shoulder (not allowed) before the young man drowned the very next day.

I had seen this story on CNN's Judy Woodrifts. However, when I went to read the transcript, that story was not included. I watched all the main news as much as possible, and no one was reporting this story. Then yesterday evening, NBC had a story. The story that ran on CNN had an interview with the young man's mother and father. The father stated Jason had been writing them that he wanted out of the Marines and wanted to go home. His father, also, stated that Jason was not a good swimmer. However, in the video that NBC showed, it showed 3 Marines in the pool with one of those "noodle" things (a thing adults use in the water so they do not sink or if they are uncomfortable in the water). This video showed one young man hanging onto the "noodle", another young man beside him, and a young lady behind him (almost on top of him), helping him.

Now this young man is from West Virginia. This happened at Parris Island, SC. From his pictures, the young man looks like a shy individual . . . an easy target for those that get a kick out of abusing, making fun of, and possibly physically hurting.

Has anyone seen the movie, "Full Metal Jacket?" It's terrible to compare this tragedy to that movie; however, the young man that killed himself in the movie, reminded me of how this young man seemed to walk with his head down. I remember seeing kids like that in school (way back when), and they were always the target of abuse from the others with their cocky confidence.

However, this strange site reads the young man committed suicide.

This site is new to me. I have never seen it before. However, notice some of the advertising it has.

It seems to show "really young girls" modeling, girls with girls kissing, a man that looks like Gannon (or is?) exercising and talking about the military workout.

I really didn't get into it that much out of it, however, after looking at the site, I wanted to know "about" who was running all this. As I read it I swore it was a satirical site. Then again, I'm not sure if it is or not. Anyone familiar with this rather perverse site?????

http://outsidethebeltway.com/otbabout.htm

Anyone?

[susu369]

1. Very haunting image of the young man

and he did look like a perfect "target" for hot shots to bully.

Very sad story and I hope the family and their lawyer can bring some true justice forward.

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

2. Recruit's death could mean legal action

World News]: COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 21 : The parents of a U.S. Marine recruit who drowned during training plan to sue the government and hope for a court-martial for anyone responsible.

Johnny and Linda Tharp, in an interview Monday with NBC's "Today" show, said their son was sick and should not have been taking a swim qualification test during Marine boot camp. Jason Tharp died Feb. 8 after an incident during training in a pool at Parris Island, S.C.

WIS-TV, Columbia, S.C., captured what it terms an "intense interaction" between Jason Tharp and a drill instructor prior to the recruits' death.

The Tharp told NBC they plan to sue the military for wrongful death and hope authorities convene a court-martial in the case. <snip>

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=75625


Instructor suspended after recruit's death
Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published February 20, 2005

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA -- A drill instructor who struck a Marine recruit who later died during training has been suspended pending an investigation into the death, military officials said Friday. <snip>

The day before his death, a Columbia television station recorded a confrontation between Tharp and the drill instructor, who was seen in the video grabbing Tharp by the shirt and striking him in the chest. <snip>

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0502200094feb20,1,4285056.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed


Five Marines suspended during drowning inquiry
One other Marine given desk duty during investigation

CNN) -- Five Marines have been suspended and another put on administrative duty during an investigation into the drowning of a recruit in a training pool at Parris Island, South Carolina, a Marine Corps spokesperson said Saturday. <snip>

Tharp's parents told WIS-TV that their son, who joined the Marines to earn money for college, was miserable and wanted to quit.

Although they said they were not certain there was any connection between his death and what happened on the tape, Tharp's parents were upset by the way their son was being treated. They also said he did not swim well. <snip>

"Basically, you're not supposed to lay your hands on a recruit," said Eugene Fidell of the National Institute of Military Justice. "You don't really want to have drill instructors grabbing a recruit by the collar, which is what happened here, and you don't want to have them hitting them with elbows."

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/02/19/marine.drowning/