Navy probe to decide future of fired U.S. carrier commander

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. APRIL 3, 2020 / 10:49 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Exclusive: Navy probe to decide future of fired U.S. carrier commander

Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart
5 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Even as he is hailed as a hero by his crew, the fired commander of a coronavirus-stricken U.S. aircraft carrier is being reassigned while investigators consider whether he should face disciplinary action, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters on Friday.

Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after a scathing letter in which he called on the Navy for stronger action to halt the spread of the virus aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was leaked to the media.

Modly said in an interview that the letter was shared too widely and leaked before even he could see it.

But the backlash to Modly’s decision to fire Crozier has been intense. In videos posted online, sailors on the Theodore Roosevelt applauded Crozier and hailed him as a hero, out to defend his crew - even at great personal cost to his career.

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Modly did not suggest that Crozier’s career was over, saying he thought everyone deserved a chance at “redemption.”

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-navy-exclusive/exclusive-navy-probe-to-decide-future-of-fired-u-s-carrier-commander-idUSKBN21L28Q

[soryang]

1. Still haven't seen anyone address the Danang port visit

Last edited Wed Apr 8, 2020, 12:37 AM - Edit history (1)

This is the only article I've seen even mention it, and that only tangentially:

The port call of the Theodore Roosevelt has already helped to deepen bilateral trust. Six thousand sailors visiting a nation adjacent to the epicenter of the ongoing coronavirus health crisis certainly stimulated a debate in both Hanoi and Washington about proceeding with the visit. Both countries have legitimate health concerns. For its part, the United States Pacific Fleet has directed its ships to remain at sea for 14 days following a foreign port call in Asia to identify any spread of the contagion. The easiest and safest choice would be to for one side or the other to have postponed this significant event...

https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/even-coronavirus-couldnt-stop-the-2nd-us-carrier-visit-to-vietnam/

Commercial port calls for cruise ships in Southeast Asia were already canceled. The Diamond Princes debacle in Yokohama was already well under way. Someone in the chain of command made a bad judgement call. I don't think it was much of a career risk under these circumstances for the Captain to seek help with the outbreak. The handwriting was already on the wall.

I'd be surprised if the issue gets addressed in an IG report.