FLASHBACK: MichaelMoore.com Will Never Forget Jason Tharp

[steveo1274]

Kids like this just dont belong in the military his death was an accident nothing more. No bill should be passed. It's not day care. What the hell does his dad think would happen if he got deployed and became a pow I'm pretty sure he w

[wayamy27narf]

Not sure why, but this kid was on my heart today. We graduated from high school together. He was so nice, quiet, and even natured. He's a good boy who left this world far too soon.

[cassiefknlynn]

I knew Jason :( Our brothers have been friends for years. To everyone who's being hateful- No, he didn't belong in the military, but seriously, show some respect. He didn't deserve to die the way he did and I'm sure if that was one of your family members or friends you wouldn't be saying the thing you are despite your opinions.

[Mrgruntastic]

Yea, as a former infantry Marines, USMC boot camp is no joke. Let alone getting to the fleet marine force. Jim (the reporter) brings up an excellent point, "UN and the USMC are investigating Jason's death and the conduct of the D.I. who are SUPPOSED to protect him" Which is a responsibility they don't take lightly. If I knew someone couldn't hack boot camp, wouldn't expect them to hack it in the fleet. Very Very unfortunate. RIP Kid.

Semper Fi.

[Mrgruntastic]

@Mrgruntastic and not UN but USN***

[lgndsgn]

There is much about this that makes absolutely no sense. First, how could his parents think their skinny artsy son could be a marine (or was it just for the money)? Second, why would the marines neglect the sick? Coughing up blood is a seriously bad sign. Third, after 5 letters of asking to get out why was he not discharged? Why keep someone against their will? Is this the American way? Also, how could nobody have seen him drowning and not help? This whole thing is sickening.

[hojoleon]

im sorry the kid died. but in this line of work its common. when i was in the corps my boot camp training was alot tougher than what it is today. in the military people die in training.

[tony818]

ONE ARMS DISTANCE FREAK.. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO STRAIGHT UP BUMB SHOULDERS WITH A DRILL INSTRUCTOR.. IF YOU DO SO... YOURE GONNA GO DOWN.. AND YOURE GONNA GO DOWN QUICK.. I WAS TOLD BY A DRILL INSTRUCTOR THAT IF I DIDNT HURRY THE FREAK UP AND FIND MY CHOW.. HE WAS GONNA PUT MY ASS UP ON A DOG TARGET AND DO SOME RAPID FIRE ON MY PUNK ASS.. OH WELL GET OVER IT..

[11MBIS]

@tony818 Exactly, not sure where that military law expert gets "assault" from. 

[tony818]

IF HE HADNT DIED I WOULDNT FEEL BAD SAYING THIS BUT THE RECRUIT WAS CLEARLY WEAK.. AND THIS GUY IS DUMB HE WAS SHAKING.. WELL HELLO FREAK HE IS IN THE POOL THIS IS RECRUIT TRAINING NOT FREAKIN DAMN BOY SCOUT SUMMER CAMP.. IM SORRY FOR HIS DEATH BUT THAT RECRUIT WAS THAT 10 % CLEARLY..

[tony818]

WHO THE HELL KNOWS WHAT THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR TOLD HIM WHEN HE PULLED HIM CLOSE TO HIM.. HE COULDA GAVE HIM GOOD OL DRILL INSTRUCTOR MOTIVATION THEYRE NOT ALWAYS THE NICEST PPL.. AND HE DIDNT PUNCH HIM.. IF ANYBODY COMES CLOSE TO A DRILL INSTRUCTOR THEYRE PROBABLY GONNA GET KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT ESPECIALLY JUST TRYING TO SQUEEZE THROUGH.. IM A MARINE MY SELF AND TRUST ME.. YOULL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET THROUGH.. ONE ARMS DISTANCE WAS THE DIDDY.. SO YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM THE DRILL INSTRUCTORS

[fourtyseven05]

it strikes me that there will be people who dont believe i was there. so to give a little proof. we were plt 3024. our senior d.i. was ssgt richardson, drill hat was sgt howard, and i cant remember the other twos names. our kill hat we all called mad dawg cuz we all thought he was rabid. after tharp drowned, they were all replaced. a d.i. from 3025 replaced our s.d.i. so we then had ssgt garcia, sgt ragsdale and ssgt raynor, who would flick us off on the way to chow. we graduated apr 1, 2005

[cdfox85]

@fourtyseven05

The other two were Sgt Huff and Sgt Hall (mad dawg). ;)

[fourtyseven05]

omg this pisses me off like you wouldnt believe. not because "they killed him" but becuase i was in tharps platoon. i was there that day the idiots with cameras were running around. i was there when SSgt Richardson "hit" him. he didnt even touch him, its the perspective on the camera. i was watching from the bleachers, which if you look, youll find are to the right side of my former senior d.i. And tharp was never singled out anymore than anyone else. his death was an accident and no ones fault

[Sphereshock]

In reality most recruits at some point in time at boot camp regret their desicion. My grandfather went to Paris Island to become Marine 40 or so years ago and he told me even he had regrets a few weeks through boot camp. You have to remember though that this is apart of Marine Boot Camp. They break you down, and build you into a United States Marines. Oorah fellas, I ship to boot in Jan of 2011, hopefully sooner.

[seriouslybad6767]

WTF?!? That's exactly how he should have been treated. Our DI's smacked us when we screwed up and it made us stronger. It's not Boy Scout camp - It's Parris Island! We have truly become a nation of pansies.

[Floatingworlds7]

This is heartbreaking, and completely unacceptable. I went to basic @ Parris Island in the late 90's. I can assert that, at the time, Drill Instructors there (specifically 3rd Battalion DIs) DID maliciously strike, push, slap and kick recruits regularly. Don't get me wrong: I support our boys out there, fighting an unjust war. I was there too. However, I DO NOT support our armed forces as institutions, and if I had it to do over I would NOT sign the contract. Once a Marine.. and once was ENOUGH.

[RJTX]

What these recruits see in Boot is just a baby taste what they will endure on the battle field. Lets say the DI's made it easy on this guy and said hey he is a nice kid lets go easy on him. So they pass him and he moves on. Then he gets in the Fleet and on the battle field. Then the crap hits the fan and he freezes up like he did at the pool and Marines die. I would guess 50% or more recruits say they "want out" either to themselves or in a letter home. Most go on to graduate and become marines.

[tony818]

@RJTX GOOD TRASH.. I MEAN HE DIED SAD STORY I FEEL BAD BUT.. IF HE WOULDA BEEN IN MY SQUAD AND DID THAT SHIT IN COUNTRY.. HE COULDA EASILY GOTTEN OTHER FELLOW MARINES KILLED.. GOOD POINT

[RJTX]

While it is tragic this young man died it does not mean the Marine Corp training is wrong. The incident of the DI "striking" the recruit is not "abuse". You DO NOT approach a DI that close. If the DI decked him with his fist then fine that may be abuse. However a simple pushing with his elbow after a recruit violates his "space" is not abuse. DI's walk a fine line everyday for six weeks. They are their to train Marines not Boy Scouts.

[0587dave]

i have a question, does any of this say they didnt try to pull him out and perform CPR? maybe they did and they jsut couldnt save him. people drown everyday from qualified life guards on duty not being abel to resistate someone. this is all a one sided story of the parents they brought to the news station and it made the best story for the news so they didnt do any other research at all

[0587dave]

of course he was singled out he was trying to be a Marine, that isa very high honor and they want you to meet their standards. you fuckin know that when you enlist and you have to do this shit. if you have any doubt your not mentally tough enough about any part of it then dont fuckin go. but the shoulder check and shit was not just for him. its allowed to happen and it happens to anyone that gets close to a DI.

[0587dave]

that forearm shot from the Drill instructor will happen to anybody that gets that close and bumps into one of them. if people did the research before posting that shit they would have know. its a way to separate them from the recruits for the safety of the drill instructors. you are specifically told to stay this far away from them or else your getting a slam back if not worse.

[azarel7]

I mean c'mon...if you're going to get killed at least let it be by the enemy, by Taliban over in Afghanistan or whatever...but not on your home soil, drowning in a pool surrounded by fellow recruits and soldiers. That is messed up

[azarel7]

How do you drown in 8 feet of water surrounded by supervisors and other recruits?

You mean out of all of them none of them recognized he was drowning? None of them threw him a flotation device? None of them could have pulled him out of the water and then said "You've failed, you're out of the Marine core"

[coolchris303]

shit is fucked up..look at how the kid was walking, shouldve just kicked him out before it came to that....

1) in all reality dont you sign your life away as soon as you join??

2) a little nudge in the shoulder aint shit compared to what he WOULD have been taking if he made it

shouldve just kicked him out.....

[oc1omaen]

Wow, pretty heartless to basically say "Oh well, only the strong survive." I'd like to see how you react if it were your son who died in boot camp. It's not for everybody but atleast he tried. There's people who walk the street like tough guys but wouldn't step foot onto military base in boot camp. He died for goodness sake and you take the DI's side??? Ya'll are supposed to be fighting for our country, not against us...especially those who pose no threat.

[09caffero11]

Holy shit.. It's fucking Marine Corps boot camp! This video pisses me off. He's one of the recruits I would've hated when I was in boot camp.. No, fucking moto.

[eyerishness]

ok, the kid was barely hit...if you want to call it that. I cant count how many times I was corrected for being stupid...it made me stronger. my DI's were gods among men, and not one DI wants a recruit to die, but it happens, they are there to make civilians into Marines. it's Marine boot camp...not freaking day camp.

haha, any Marines still have nightmares/dreams about boot camp? I still do after 3 years out. good times.

[highhopesbigletdowns]

that kid wasn't asked to joined, he was never forced to join the corps. he probably drowned in his own stunt to get out. when i swam in that pool they pulled u out at any sign of a struggle which is why some or none make it past the first day

[highhopesbigletdowns]

I'm sorry but this is a big load of shit. your told from day 1 not to walk that close to a dril instructor let alone try to bump into him. ive seen kids like that, they walk all sad and weak like someone will care. the public should not have a say in military training. Marines train to kill how the fuck can his dad stand there and say that knowing his son is becoming a marine. It depresses me cause they are letting the public have to much say in trainning and it shows later in a marines career.

[0587dave]

@highhopesbigletdowns thats the fuckin media getting everybody crazy again trying to make a story out of something they dont know anything about. the parents probably made up their own story about what happened in their heads and went to the media to do a story about it and thats all the research that was done about it. the news only needs enough to make a good story.

[djchink]

Being a Marine isn't all about being the hardcore war hungry killing machine, yes we're trained to be killing machines, but there's also a professional side in being a Marine, the way we dress when not on duty and the way we handle ourselves outside the Marine Corps. The lack of professionalism from this Drill Instructor is unsat. straight up unsat.

[bigchief991]

Former Marine here, 2003-2007.

One of the Drill Instructors whom got dragged into this bullshit, for being at the pool that day, was my former D.I. Professional and dedicated. 99.999% of D.I.s and Combat Instructors are.

Tharp's training death probably kept other Marines from dying in combat. So what if he was a nice kid? So what if he wanted out? Who made him sign the goddamn contract?

Kids: This is the Marines Corps. Only the hard and strong survive. Only the hard, only the strong!

[CaptainCarnoge]

agreed... i leave for recruit training november 15th. This kid obviously didnt have the drive to be a marine, so he was fakin sick to get out.

[treid100182]

Typical: kill a Marine, but pay a contractor $90,000 for 3 months of atrocious behavior!!!!

That drill sergeant should be fired, and the investigation should be continued...This kid was KILLED.

[Slippymicky]

Do they still hit and such at Parris Island? Yes and the Officers know full well it goes on. But so do the Russians. Their training is a lot harder. But to my understanding it is not like that all the time. For you must have a good enviroment to learn. Then have the harsh enviroment to apply what you learn and thus make sure you learn it. The Marine Corp and other American branches of the military does not understand that. They need to. I'm glad I did it. I'm glad it's over to.

[Slippymicky]

But the Marine Corp lost to the French Foreign Legion in the obstickle course. Taking 7 hours I think it was to the Legion's 45 minutes. The Legion's training is tough but not made into a mind game against those being trained and the trainers. I think the Officers should be trained with the regular recruits and no one told until after the Crucible. That would give them the same training, keep the D.I.s in line and build and even stronger bond between the Officers and Enlisted.

[Slippymicky]

I think what the problem is, is that you have Officers that don't go through training

like the enlisted do. Nor do they do it at Parris Island. Or San Deigo as far as I know. They also have their weekends off to my understanding. So thus you have people incharge that don't know the impact of the judgements they make. I think each generation has tried to make the training better by making it harder. However. It is the Marine Corp not the Boyscouts.

[Slippymicky]

The Marine Corp has been investigated for murders since the 1950s. The first and most famous being the McKeon death march at Parris Island. Few people knew what a Marine was before then unless you had family in it. believe it or not. Myself, I graduated in march 2001 from First Plt 1018 Alpha Company. Not far before Tharp. My impression is that the training is far worse now than in the 50s. Back then they could smoke, take time off and read and other minor stuff that is not allowed anymore.

[Slippymicky]

He subcombed to fear. I understand. I swan in that very pool. I know that stage he was at. Where you're losing massive amounts of weight, which is quite scary. Also an endless supply of snot seems to constantly flow out of your nose. Bloody, pus filled and words can't describe how much truly flows out and be believed. You think you' re slowly dying. Lack of food and protien makes thinking hard. Thus you do things wrong and are always in trouble. After swim week though it is all downhill.

[WEENIE666]

F*CK THE MARINES.

thats where u go if u cant get a job, bunch of losers!

[SubmissiveDeen]

What a horrible comment... at least respect those who serve.

[SubmissiveDeen]

Yes there are some.. who are jerks, but a lot of good people enlist as well.

[KevinPlaf89]

FUCK YOU!!! I'M A MARINE!!!! Your prolly one of the sorry as mother fuckers that tried to go to boot camp and started crying for your mommy like a little bitch the first day and got send home for "failure to adapt." fucking looer. when you do 2 tours over seas and come back alive and with nothing rong with you then start talking. dumb ass!!!

[marauderbaseballplyr]

Thats because you dont have what it takes to serve. I was there when all this went down, I am sorry for his family but no one put a gun to his head to sign on the dotted line. Marines are trained for combat whether its someone behind a desk or out in the desert. War is not rainbows and picnics. So I suggest that you shut your mouth, grab a gun, and do you part!!

[ddean1987]

A kid from my high school died during marine training as well. RIP to him and this guy.

[mufasa10811]

grow and send them to be killed, fuck you there is no good from army in this days!

[Lavitz00]

thats the marines...

not the army...

[C666O]

Same Shit!

[Lavitz00]

well then ur a dumb shit

[chadpopstar]

evil f**kers.

[zio5q]

lol this is bad? my uncle in law did his service in russia.

[Lavitz00]

lol he died...

But they still do this shit in russia

[zio5q]

yeah one person die its bad, but from the stories my uncle told its worst over in russia, suicides and torture. And not that weak verson of "torture" in guentanamo.

[zio5q]

/watch?v=wrIYE5D920M check this out.

[jobedied]

Macho fools let that kid drown they showed him who is boss.

Just kick the kid out if he can not handle the military why kill him that was man slaughter with out a doubt. Not everyone who goes into the military can handle the stress. Jerk off DI come see if you can get this old man in the pool you shit for brain jar head.

[nohealthcare62]

More suicieds and AWOLS than in ALL the WARS Combined ..This is Tourture at a EXTREME ...and even the Army Recruiters are killing them selves ..My Son I got to sign him a NUT House to keep him out of Iraq ! Now I have a ALIVE Nutty Son and I love him to Death !

[morganseathomson]

That's awful. I don't know what else to say.

[tuberpie68]

I though the Marines & other branches of the military were SUPPOSED TO be brutal, & especially so to people like Jason who "never hurt nobody", in order to make them tough & aggressive killers & vandals, because that's what a combatant in war needs to be, in order fight well. And, I further thought that this was common sense, which everyone knew.

[muratshawn]

Sick Fucks.....this so shameful and its seeing in the rest of the world. These people sign up to defand and fight for our country,and look what happens to them while they are being trained. These assholes think they are tough,but once out of their uniform in private life,they're all wussies...believe me! I beat up 2 navy seals at a bar...not to mention I have the 7th dan black belt in aikido :) losers!!!

[knoose]

Altho a sad situation, i must agree with you.

If he is volunteering into service, he knew it would

be harsh and physical.

What else would you be expecting?

[kklol7]

In his defense, he probably didn't know how intense the training would be.

[Beast1963]

probably not expecting to die. i wonder how long those bastards took to try and save jason from drowning.

[stu66er]

Theres a fine line between unquestioned discipline and terrorizing fascism, and they crossed it.

[robertds1962]

how can thay get away with this

[KABOODLE562]

So did the family file a wrongful death lawsuit? Poor kid. He just wanted to serve his country and they treated him like 10 pounds of dog shit. Disgraceful.

[billyelliot1975]

Agreed, why would a kid join the marines. Free health care...well u will need it when u have no arms and legs!!! This looks like a clear case of manslaughter, if not bordering on murder...when is the court martial???

[marniespeaks]

this will send a message to other troops who can't keep up with the enemy er, ummm, I mean millitary personal.

really, when are kids going to stop falling for this crap and stop enlisting? They're not protecting us they are securing profits for big corporations

looked like a nice kid, that father will hate himself the rest of his life

[mohamedak47warrior]

they should be killed for killng him

[Permafry42]

never kill because someone else killed.

[HJRaymondIII]

The "Drill Instructor" in this video needs a nice cask of Amontillado.

I say he is shit. Uh HUH.

[WKaliberr]

cum?

[ytMarkcg]

I wonder if anybody can get the name and address and telephone number of the drill instructor and post it on line. It is very obvious that his treatment is way out of line and since the marines aren't supervising him mabey he needs to hear from the public.

[WELCOME2TROTSKY]

US has become a complete force for evil within and and outside of its borders...really nice folks...the time is way over do for action.

[renijohn012270]

The Bush Administration set the tone, culture and policy for the military for 8 long years.

Result=

Torture foreign prisoners in secret prisons.

Abuse Domestic prisoners.

Invade foreign lands.

Conclusion:

Neo-Con Republican Chicken Hawks should never be allowed one foot near the oval-office!

And this fuck Dick Cheney,,,,,,,,,,,,,he was in some undisclosed location in a bunker drinking vodka for 8 years and now all of a sudden he speaks to the media every other weekend?????

[djdiggs204]

I'd like to re-iterate my statement that someone here needs to be held criminally responsible for the death of this young man.

The question that needs to be answered immediately was posted in a comment just a few down from mine:

How could a young man drown in plain view of men who are trained in observation and first aid?

[0587dave]

@djdiggs204 people drown all the time with life guards on duty. the story didnt say anything about them pulling him out of not or doing CPR or anything. they could have done all that and just not been able to save him. the media did it one sided and that was the parents side because they came with the best story for them as a news station.

[djdiggs204]

This is so sad. My heart goes out to this Marine's family. I hope there is more attention on this matter.

[nohealthcare62]

I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care programI see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And thats what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And thats what Id like to see.

[VEGETADTX]

Sad...fascism...

[TheWindClaw]

This was murder, flat out. No Drill Sergeant that I know of would let somebody die like that... especially when it would be so easy to intervene on the recruit's behalf.

Take it from a guy that was in the United States Army... this is not how recruits are treated or trained.

The correct course of action was to either

a: Chapter the recruit out of the Marine Corpse

b: Hold him back until he passes.

Most likely b should have been the case.

[0587dave]

if he wasnt getting physical or verbal in anyways yes they would have continued to recycle him. if he still refused to put out that is a dishonerable discharge for refusing to follow orders. if you literally cant pass a test but try... they will almost always pass you i have seen them pass running tests when off by 2 minutes

[barrywilliamsmb]

There's no life like it!

Err, there's no life if you don't like it...

Thanks, mmflint.

[TinaFunk]

Words cannot describe the sorrow I feel for the family! My sincere condolences. But.. What is happening to people?! In a time when we all should be helping each other, we are destroying each other instead. I think a lot of kids are joining the military because of the inavailabity of jobs. I think the recruiter should have looked for a more apporpriate placement. This kid wanted to serve his country, and instead, his country killed him before he had a chance. Sad.. just really sad.

[KataVideo]

These are (apparently) simple people who actually believe what they're told.

Yup, joining the marines will make a man out of that skinny boy.

"The Few, The Proud"... apparently so few that they can't simply allow an exit for someone who's obviously not cut out for it.

But if a decorated corps member with skills necessary to fight terrorism has a boyfriend, they can't find the exit soon enough.

America's Military remain stay BROKEN as long as it remains in the hands of bible-belt conservatards.

[0587dave]

@KataVideo they do allow and exit. if you refuse to do it they dont make you do it, they recycle you until they realize you are never going to put out, then they dishonerably discharge you and sometimes put you in military prison because you signed a contract to follows orders and you didnt follow them.

[0587dave]

your contract says everything about everything in the military that you have to abide by and when you dont you also get everything in writing that you sign that says what can happen if you dont do what your told.

[Maorawrath]

They killed him, plain and simple

[Sphereshock]

@Maorawrath I feel bad for Jason Tharp but in reality he should have known what he was getting himself into. They're called Marines and if he himself knew he couldn't swim and wouldn't he shouldn't have tried to become a Marine. Air Force will help you through college the same.

[DameDiabolique]

Well, the military is supposed to be tough. I mean training is a picnic until you get out on the real battlefield. Especially the Marines. It would seem that Tharp was just a softie trying to join the military to pay for art school.

However, nothing justifies the brutal treatment of the drill instructors. Plus the fact that his physical health was in serious danger. He should have been allowed to leave when he and his family asked for it.

But I don't think this family should be able to sue.

[DameDiabolique]

Damn, they are water boarding the terrorist now they are drowning the troops???? WTF!

[Richardgwm]

Close the Pentagon.

[3101010]

Just another eye opener

[RahRy444]

WTF... This is fucking ridiculous, and makes me angry, power hungry fucks...

[MauiRae]

2nd that comment. Sick of this shit happening!

[0587dave]

@MauiRae sick of what shit happening? no other recruit has died since 2001, then another in 2005, i think thats pretty low % compared to the people that die in front of their computers eating donuts everyday. sorry he had to die but it is the military not wal mart

[MauiRae]

@0587dave

Your stats mean nothing to me, nor your lame comparison of Wallmart vs the Military...Sorry? I'm sure that's acceptable answer, to that man's family...

(LOL) Have a good day & be safe, next time you shop at Wallmart. ; /