Article

2020-04-03 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

US Navy Relieves Skipper of the USS Theodore Roosevelt

[AJC] The commander of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean who pleaded with the Pentagon for more help with a coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship has been relieved of duty, according to several news reports, citing U.S. officials.

U.S. Navy Capt. Brett E. Crozier is being removed because of "a loss of trust and confidence," sources told NBC News.

On Monday Crozier wrote a four-page letter to his superiors in Washington about the dire situation unfolding aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is docked in Guam with more than 4,000 sailors, dozens of them infected with the virus. Crozier criticized Navy leadership, saying failed to provide the proper resources to combat an outbreak. "We are not at war," Crozier wrote. "Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset ‐ our sailors." The letter was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday. Some news outlets, including CNN, are reporting that Navy brass suspect Crozier may have leaked the letter to the press.

All crew members have since been tested for the virus and by Wednesday 93 were confirmed positive and another 1,000 sailors had been taken to quaratine on shore in Guam. NBC reports that 2,700 more are expected to unboard, but some will remain behind with the ship.

Thomas Modly, the acting secretary of The Navy was expected to make an official announcement later Thursday.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-03 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11 views ] Top

#1 It will be some time before we can tell if it was our country's version of Breaker Morant(1980) -- someone that embarrasses the high command must get the axe to make a statement.

Posted by magpie 2020-04-03 01:37|| 2020-04-03 01:37|| Front Page Top

#2 We have known from the quarantine of the Diamond Princess ship at a Japanese port that once an outbreak starts on a ship the passengers must be evacuated to prevent further transmission.
What was the delay in action to disembark and properly isolate to prevent the needless transmission of the highly contagious covid 19 virus?

Posted by boomerc 2020-04-03 03:05|| 2020-04-03 03:05|| Front Page Top

#3 He allowed shore leave knowing the disease was in port. Then leaks his demands to some 20 others trying to fix his mistake. While the sailors come first, his ass should come last.

Posted by Woodrow 2020-04-03 03:28|| 2020-04-03 03:28|| Front Page Top

#4 These vessels are surely tracked by the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, possibly all three and more. How difficult would it be to have 'comfort girl' vectors pre-positioned and isolated ?

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-03 04:16|| 2020-04-03 04:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Readiness status of deployed carriers is classified. He violated opsec.

Posted by Penguin_of_the_Desert 2020-04-03 04:17|| 2020-04-03 04:17|| Front Page Top

#6 Excellent point POTD. Due to politics, Foggy Bottom diplodinks, etc., the skipper may have not had any control over events. He could have 'bet his bars' on this one.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-03 04:22|| 2020-04-03 04:22|| Front Page Top

See comment #4 in this thread.

Posted by Herb McCoy 2020-04-03 06:24|| 2020-04-03 06:24|| Front Page Top

#8 Herb, you're an idiot. The Skipper has the last word on his command. Regardless of the "guidelines" he is expected to exercise command judgement where is ship and crew are concerned.

Granting shore leave was a stupid mistake on his part.

Posted by Shavimp Snore6137 2020-04-03 09:52|| 2020-04-03 09:52|| Front Page Top

#9 Still not sure how a supercarrier would be unprepared for a major virus incident when that would have been one of the only tactics enemies could use to take one out.

Posted by rjschwarz 2020-04-03 10:21|| 2020-04-03 10:21|| Front Page Top

#10 Stavaridis is going to bat for the guy. Always a warning flag as far as I'd concerned.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-03 10:23|| 2020-04-03 10:23|| Front Page Top

#11 Seriously, start watching for this phenomenon and you'll see it all the time.

Hammer >> nail

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-03 10:24|| 2020-04-03 10:24|| Front Page Top

#12 Why the USS Roosevelt’s Captain Had To Be Relieved

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-04-03 10:27|| 2020-04-03 10:27|| Front Page Top

#13 There is a chain of command even at his exalted level and it absolutely does not include the SF Chronicle and/or somebody likely to leak the memo to them.

Shore leave was a bad decision. Dealing with bad decisions, both your own and others' are part of being in charge. Crying to the media like some hapless bitch is most decidedly NOT a part of being in charge. It is a luxury alternative not available to Infantry soldiers, not in medias res at any rate.

This is appallingly bad behavior and utterly beneath the level of conduct of a man entrusted with a carrier battle group. Perhaps he can self isolate at Diego Garcia for a couple or four years while his discharge papers are put in order.

Posted by Cesare 2020-04-03 11:12|| 2020-04-03 11:12|| Front Page Top

#14 Excellent points Cesare. Out of an abundance of caution, the skipper could have diverted or changed course prior to reaching Da Nang. Don't know if that would have prompted a relief, but floating a memo to the media was certainly a bad choice and career ender.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-03 11:21|| 2020-04-03 11:21|| Front Page Top

#15 The Chinese have been talking for years about how to knock out our CVN's. They finally got one.

Posted by Matt 2020-04-03 11:22|| 2020-04-03 11:22|| Front Page Top

#16

The capitan sent the memo to persons outside his chain of command via what the AP called “a non-secure, unclassified email.”

This IS stupid

Posted by European Conservative 2020-04-03 11:26|| 2020-04-03 11:26|| Front Page Top

#17 Ref #15: Cruise ships may have been the beta test. The USS Roosevelt port call, a bonus event.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-03 11:26|| 2020-04-03 11:26|| Front Page Top

#18 These ships are designed to "repel",guard against biological attack, meaning seleted compartments can be isolated and put on "positive" pressure via the ventilation systems...there were options,but it would be a compromise to ship operations..

Posted by crazyhorse 2020-04-03 12:01|| 2020-04-03 12:01|| Front Page Top

#19 Thanks Besoeker, I was not a Navy guy so I hesitate to comment. But I find this transparent attempt at a public/media life line for a screw up beneath contempt. The argument that 'they wanted to go on shore leave' frankly makes my anatomy crawl. At some point, somebody somewhere has to be an 'effing adult.

Posted by Cesare 2020-04-03 12:24|| 2020-04-03 12:24|| Front Page Top

#20 https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2020/04/us-sailors-pour-aircraft-carrier-and-isolation-guam/164287/

Posted by newc 2020-04-03 13:25|| 2020-04-03 13:25|| Front Page Top

#21 Gen. Milley on Navy removal of aircraft carrier captain over COVID-19 letter

Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-03 16:28|| 2020-04-03 16:28|| Front Page Top

#22 It's one thing to write a CYA memo. It's another to use the media to drop it on your boss's head.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-03 19:37|| 2020-04-03 19:37|| Front Page Top

#23 /\ Bingo! It would be interesting to find out who has been shepherding Captain Crozier's career in the past, hmmm? Leaking a CYA memo is not what you would expect of someone entrusted a CVN.

Posted by magpie 2020-04-03 20:28|| 2020-04-03 20:28|| Front Page Top

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06:47 Skidmark
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06:39 NN2N1
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06:37 Skidmark
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06:31 Grom the Reflective
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06:27 Skidmark
06:27 Grom the Reflective
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06:25 NN2N1
06:24 Skidmark
06:22 Frank G
06:20 Grom the Reflective
06:19 Skidmark
06:11 Skidmark
06:04 Skidmark
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05:56 Frank G
05:48 NN2N1