2 Marine Sergeants Charged in Hazings

Two Marine sergeants were charged with dereliction of duty and other counts stemming from the savage beating of a Marine private at Ft. Knox, Ky. Four privates already face charges in the beating of Pvt. Maciej Lugowski at a barracks where investigators said there were weekly fights, mock crucifixions and beatings. Lugowski, 20, of New York City, lost his spleen and suffered other injuries Dec. 17. Sgt. Michael P. Whitaker, 25, of Great Falls, Mont., and Sgt. Bruce T. Dowling Jr., 24, of Irvington, Ala., were charged with dereliction of duty, violating rules for reporting offenses and violating bans on hazing, said Maj. Rick Long, a spokesman for the Parris Island Marine Corps Training Depot. Lugowski and the other privates were students training to be tank mechanics at the U.S. Army Armor School at Ft. Knox. Whitaker and Dowling are instructors at the school.