An investigation has been launched after an Army platoon was accused of racially abusing its own soldiers in an event known as 'Racial Thursdays ' . The sickening tradition allegedly has been taking place among soldiers in the 2nd Platoon , C Company , 3rd Battalion , 21st Infantry Regiment at Fort Wainwright , Alaska . The Army Times first reported on the racist behavior after several soldiers , who wished to remain anonymous , came forward . One staff sergeant , who is black , told the newspaper this week : 'When I first got to my unit , someone said we should do `` Racial Thursdays '' because it 's been a tradition . 'It 's something they made up where you can say any racist remark you want without any consequences . The platoon sergeant said no , but the s*** is still going on . ' A platoon based at Fort Wainwright in Alaska ( pictured ) has been placed under investigation after it emerged that they were holding 'Racial Thursdays ' - when any racist remark was allowed without consequence . Another soldier of lower rank verified the story but also asked to remain anonymous . He said that a Latino colleague was badgered with racial slurs for hours until he almost got into a fight with another soldier . 'Racial Thursdays ' were reportedly taking place at the same unit in Alaska where Pvt Danny Chen ( pictured ) once belonged . The solider , 19 , committed suicide in 2011 after what investigators said was weeks of abuse and racial slurs . The platoon leader allegedly encouraged the practice 'to build morale and camaraderie ' , The Army Times reported . 'Racial Thursdays ' have allegedly been taking place at the same unit where Private Danny Chen once belonged , The Army Times reported . The 19-year-old infantryman from New York City shot himself in a guard tower in southern Afghanistan in October 2011 after what investigators described as weeks of physical abuse , humiliation and racial slurs . The young soldier endured attacks on a daily basis for six weeks from fellow soliders who singled him out for being Chinese-American . He was taunted with the slurs 'gook ' , 'chink ' and 'dragon lady ' , according to reports , beaten and put on excessive guard duty to the point of exhaustion . The day of his death he was made to crawl 100 yards over gravel carrying equipment while rocks were thrown at him by fellow soldiers . In December 2011 , the Army charged eight soldiers with various crimes relating to Chen 's death . Four soldiers were ultimately court-martialed . In a statement to Daily Mail Online , the U.S. Army in Alaska said : 'We are already aware of these allegations , as an informal complaint was made through command channels about this alleged behavior . The command has assigned an investigating officer and the investigation is ongoing . The command is extremely sensitive to any complaints that involve equal opportunity or discrimination and will investigate every allegation . 'It 's important to emphasize that these allegations are just that . They 're allegations , and that 's what the investigation has been assigned to find out , exactly what happened and if anything happened . 'Based on the results of that inquiry , and if the evidence supports it , the commander , usually the brigade commander , can elect to conduct a 15-6 investigation . 'Treating all soldiers with dignity and respect is something this command takes extremely seriously , and when there are any indications that those values are not being followed , the command will absolutely make inquiries , conduct appropriate investigations and take action as necessary . '
Soldiers revealed the tradition at Fort Wainwright was when colleagues were allowed to abuse each other with racial slurs - without consequence . 'Racial Thursdays ' have allegedly been taking place at the same unit where Private Chen once belonged . The 19-year-old committed suicide in Afghanistan in October 2011 after what investigators described as weeks of physical abuse and racial slurs .