Pvt. Danny Chen's Closest Military Friend Testifies

Military Judge Maj. Bret Bartdorff granted the jury panel a lunch recess after Cpt. Osborne of the prosecution team requested an Article 39(a).

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, as in civilian cases, Article 39(a) sessions take place outside the presence of the "court martial members" who serve as the jury in military cases.

Prior to the recess, Army Pvt. Danny Chen's closest friend and roommate, Pfc. Bryan Johnson, took the stand to testify on Thursday.

Johnson reiterated that he saw the stress of the disapproval of Chen's family taking a toll on the soldier.

As Cpt. Osborne questioned Johnson about early indications of Chen's depression, Johnson recounted an incident in Alaska where they were assigned together for classes to train up for Afghanistan and Chen was AWOL for a formation before being the soldiers were to be released to see their families.

Pfc. Johnson began to ask around about Chen's whereabouts and proceeded to knock on his door twice, with no answer. He then returned more worried with another peer, Pfc. Geisler, along with his spouse, Mrs. Johnson and still had no answer after they knocked on Chen's door.

"I thought he had possibly fallen in the shower, or out of bed," stated Pfc. Johnson before deciding to get the Staff Duty Desk Officer involved, ending in the fire department being contacted.

Pfc. Johnson shared that after Chen finally opened his door he appeared in a t-shirt and shorts and turned and walked to his bed and curled up in the fetal position and covered up with a blanket. When asked twice why he missed formation, Chen answered Johnson stating only: "my parents". 

Though Johnson had only had contact by telephone on one occasion with Chen's family, it was to introduce himself as Chen's roommate. He had also stated that Mrs. Chen tried to send a care package to her son once.

According to Johnson's testimony, one concern that Chen had mentioned before was that his parents argued with their son about the upcoming deployment and they told him they would disown him if he deployed.

At one point, Johnson assured Chen telling him that he would be his surrogate family, along with his spouse and Pfc. Geisler, and that he is a like a brother to him.

"We are all here for you," said Johnson to Chen, causing Chen to respond back with a smile.

The prosecution team next questioned Pfc. Johnson about their time together in Afghanistan.

Johnson recalled once they arrived in Kandahar, Afghanistan they were assigned to different platoons and only saw each on a few occasions.

Both times Johnson and Chen got to meet back up was for funeral ceremonies for Pfc. Mullins, a peer in Johnson's platoon, and at a later date for Spc. Green's memorial service.

On both occasions Chen had shared with Johnson that he had experienced being 'smoked' more than the others in his platoon, but he did not expound on why or mention any names.

Johnson stated that he saw Chen at a routine equipment change out one and a half weeks before he died and Johnson said that his friend looked extremely tired. Johnson inquired if the 'smoking' situation had improved any and if he was sleeping.

Urging Chen to seek help other than just talking to himself, Johnson said not everyone would go to the Chaplains because they knew it would immediately get back to the chain of command, as it had in the past with other soldiers.

In the testimony on Thursday, Chen shared with Johnson that he found a way to make what happening to him stop. Johnson did not realize that Chen was speaking about suicide.

In Wednesday's court session, Yan Tao Chen, Pvt. Danny Chen's father, denied allegations that he and his wife had cut off ties once their only child joined the U.S. Army.

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