Navy To Punish Captain Who Raised Alarm About Coronavirus On Ship

(ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The Navy is expected to announce the relief of duty of a captain who raised the alarm about a quick-spreading coronavirus outbreak aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to NBC News. 

Capt. Brett Crozier, commander of the ship, wrote a letter to Navy leadership Monday painting a grim picture of the ship’s conditions while docked in Guam as the virus spread among the sailors. He called for “decisive action” including removing a majority of personnel from the ship and isolating them for two weeks.

“We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” he said. “If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our sailors.”

The letter was leaked to the media, putting the Pentagon on the defensive about whether they were doing enough to keep the sailors safe.

“It’s disappointing to hear him say that. However, at the same time, I know that that’s not the truth,” said acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly in response to Crozier’s bleak conclusion. He added, per Reuters, that if Crozier was the one who leaked the letter to the media, it “would be something that would violate the principles of good order and discipline.”

Per NBC, the official reason for Crozier’s relief of duty will be “loss of trust and confidence.”

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Per NBC, the official reason for Crozier’s relief of duty will be “loss of trust and confidence.”

    Never had any “trust and confidence” in Trump.

    Can he be given “relief of duty” as well?

  2. Apparent these days; Loose lips sink Navy careers!

  3. I would proudly serve under Capt Crozier’s command. Any time. Any where.

  4. But the truth is…in the Trump Regime…you tell the truth you get punished!

    What happened to “Honor, Courage, Commitment”?

    Just a reminder to the US Navy…It is a commitment to tell the truth!

  5. That’s total BS, the captain did the right thing by calling for help, that situation was going to kill some soldiers. Odds are he wrote the letter after he wasn’t getting as much help as he thought necessary, and that he’s not the only captain who is in the same situation. A captain’s duty is to his ship and crew, and he did right by them…too bad the Pentagon is not going to stand behind him.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

108 more replies

Participants

Avatar for zandru Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for cervantes Avatar for DuckmanGR Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for cdrikari Avatar for gr Avatar for dickweed Avatar for jinnj Avatar for canyoncountry Avatar for michaelryerson Avatar for brian512 Avatar for grack Avatar for redhand Avatar for msc00 Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for philmore Avatar for c_stedman Avatar for rucleare Avatar for kadymud Avatar for Volvo_Birkenstock

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: