Sgt punished after Army hazing incident

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) - The hazing of a West Michigan soldier that was caught on camera led to staples in the victim's head, discipline for his sergeant and an apology letter that explains how it happened.

Video shows a US Army sergeant swinging a wooden mallet into the chest of Sgt. Phillip Roach of Battle Creek.

Roach stumbled back at the impact, but at first appeared not seriously injured. He even shook his superior's hand. Then, the video shows Sgt. Roach collapsing to the floor and hitting his head on a metal, folding chair.

Sgt. Roach's father sent 24 Hour News 8 a copy of the apology letter written by Sgt. 1st Class Steven D. Carpenter II who struck Sgt. Roach with the mallet.

In the letter, Carpenter calls the incident at Fort Bragg, N.C. part of a "promotion ceremony."

"I hit your son with a wooden mallet in the chest to congratulate him on his promotion," the letter reads in part.

Carpenter calls his actions "juvenile and not in line with the Army Values."

The strike to the chest caused Sgt. Roach to collapse and strike his head, which needed six staples. He also had a seizure.

Carpenter was ordered to write the letter of apology as part of his punishment for the incident.

Officials at Fort Bragg provided this statement regarding the incident --

"Corrective action was promptly taken in this case. The 82nd Airborne Division took administrative action against a Soldier involved in striking another Soldier in April 2012 and he was punished under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. The very foundation of what we do depends on trust, and trust depends on the treatment of all Soldiers with dignity and respect by fellow Soldiers and leaders."

In addition to having to write the apology letter, NBC News reported Wednesday that Carpenter was fined, received an administrative punishment, received a letter of reprimand in his permanent filed and was relieved of his responsibilities.

NBC News called it a "career-ending punishment."

A Fort Bragg spokeswoman told 24 Hour News 8 via email Tuesday that the individuals involved were still getting "proper guidance and leadership," but there would be no further punishment.

"This incident was an unofficial promotion ceremony where the acting first sergeant showed poor judgment. His actions do not represent the noncommissioned leadership in the 82nd Airborne Division. The NCO (noncommissioned officer) has received punishment under the Uniform Code of Military justice as well as administrative punishment that was placed in his official file and will be taken into consideration whenever his file is reviewed," wrote Army Lt. Colonel Virginia McCabe.

"The NCO will not go through a court-martial as he was already punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). He cannot be punished twice for the same incident under UCMJ," McCabe added.

McCabe stated that Sgt. 1st Class Carpenter's behavior was not representative of other division leaders. She said he "demonstrated poor judgment."

Sgt. Roach has been given two weeks of paid leave to decide whether to move to another base, his father said. In the meantime, Ken Roach said, he won't know for another six weeks whether his son will be cleared for flight duty.