We noted Monday that alcoholism has become an increasing problem for the U.S. military. Want proof (no pun intended): check out this story from California’s North County Times, which does a good job covering what’s happening at the Marine Corps’ nearby Camp Pendleton:
A Marine found dead in his barracks room at Camp Pendleton early Sunday was beaten to death, a spokesman for the investigating agency said Tuesday…Lance Cpl. Mario Arias Jr. died from injuries he suffered at the hands of another Marine sometime late Saturday night or shortly after midnight. That Marine then jumped from a third-floor balcony of the barracks and suffered…”significant” injuries…Arias’ death is considered a homicide and the Marine who leaped from the balcony is the sole suspect…At Camp Pendleton, two sources have told the North County Times that the suspect was apparently drinking when he was confronted by Arias about his alcohol use. The sources say the suspect became enraged, severely beat Arias and then jumped in an apparent suicide attempt.