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Was man assaulted New Year's Day in South Philly because he's in the Army?

Philadelphia police are investigating an alleged New Year's Day assault in South Philadelphia in which relatives of a 19-year-old soldier say he was beaten by a large group of men who made insulting comments about the Army.

Philadelphia police are investigating an alleged New Year's Day assault in South Philadelphia in which relatives of a 19-year-old soldier say he was beaten by a large group of men who made insulting comments about the Army.

Sgt. Eric Gripp, a police spokesman, said authorities have been unable to speak to the victim because he was at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a broken jaw. Gripp said a relative told authorities that 12 men attacked the man around Third and Oregon Streets after 11 p.m. Sunday after they made "derogatory remarks about the Army."

Gripp said that police did not learn of the alleged assault until the next day and that the investigation was in its early stages. Another police spokesman, Lt. John Stanford, said investigators were looking for video and other evidence from the scene.

Lori Freni told Fox29 on Monday that her son, Austin, was wearing an Army jacket when he was attacked. The station reported that the assault occurred as Lori and Austin Freni and his girlfriend were leaving festivities related to the Mummers Parade.

Attempts to reach Lori Freni on Tuesday were unsuccessful. She told Fox29 that she and her son's girlfriend also were hit by some of the men while trying to stop the assault.

Freni told the station that her son was "in rough shape" and that his jaw would have to be wired shut.

Stanford said investigators anticipated speaking with Austin Freni once he has sufficiently recovered.

Two weeks ago, Fox29 reported that a Good Samaritan had paid for Austin Freni to fly home from Fort Benning, Ga., for Christmas because Lori Freni recently lost her job due to medical disability and his father was deceased.

cpalmer@phillynews.com

215-854-2817 @cs_palmer