There have been periodic incidents of training-camp deaths due to overzealous drill sergeants and/or officers -- maybe once per decade, or once per war, in the US. 95%+ of trainees (hell, maybe 99%+) get through the ordeal intact, but there is always a possibility of danger, especially if the leader is really dysfunctional.

There probably *was* a historical event in 1942 that Pete refers to in this song, which [hint] he wrote at the height of controversy over Vietnam in the 60s. Then you have the 1956 incident cited above by Lighter, and I'm sure I heard about another similar tragedy before or during the time *I* was in basic training, which was 1972. Maybe at least once more within the last decade or so, too.

McGrath is absolutely correct in pointing out that songs and other works of art with political messages OFTEN refer to parallel events from an earlier period as a way to mask or symbolize discussion of a current-day controversy. Songs of Irish rebellion, for example, often refer to incidents that occurred during an uprising / conflict / "trouble" that was already history when the song first appeared.

Outside the realm of music, consider the novel, then film, then TV series "M*A*S*H." The setting was Korea in 1951-52, but everyone who ever read the book, watched the film, or saw even one episode of the TV show had to be put in mind of Vietnam.