A Jewish soldier in basic training at a US Army camp has said he was beaten after complaining of religious discrimination. Michael Handman, 20, of Atlanta, made the allegations against two drill sergeants at Fort Benning in Georgia. One made him take off his kippah while eating and would not allow him to pray during his shift, and another allegedly used a derogatory slur.
The sergeants received letters of reprimand after a congressional inquiry, according to a local newspaper report. Six days later, Handman was involved in a fight with another trainee soldier and suffered a concussion. He was treated for a concussion and bruising to the left side of his face at the Army hospital on post and moved to a different platoon after he returned to training the next day. The command staff of the Infantry Regiment determined the fight was not motivated by religion, nor was it connected to the inquiry and subsequent reprimand.
