Capt. Brett E. Crozier, the Navy captain who was removed from command of the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, has tested positive for Covid-19, according to two Naval Academy classmates of Crozier’s who are close to him and his family.
A Navy spokesman declined to comment on Crozier’s Covid status.
The commander began exhibiting symptoms before he was removed from the warship on Thursday, two of his classmates said. Crozier was fired following a leak to The San Francisco Chronicle of a letter he had emailed to Navy leaders that detailed the failures on the service’s part to provide the necessary resources to swiftly move sailors off the carrier and disinfect areas on board as the virus spread through the ship.
Thomas B. Modly, the acting secretary of the Navy, said he had lost confidence in Crozier’s ability to command the ship effectively as it dealt with the evolving crisis after Crozier sent the letter on an unclassified email system to 20 to 30 people. Sending such a letter, Modly said, caused unnecessary alarm about the operational readiness of the ship and undermined the chain of command. “In sending it out pretty broadly, he did not take care to ensure that it couldn’t be leaked,” Modly said. “And that’s part of his responsibility.”
In a briefing Saturday, President Trump offered support for Modly’s decision. “He shouldn’t be talking that way in a letter,” the president said of Crozier. “I thought it was terrible what he did.”
Carbonatite on April 5th, 2020 at 16:59 UTC »
This guy is an actual American hero. He's been treated like shit for putting his life and career on the line to help the men and women under his command. He's a REAL leader.
Sometimes I think we should define the quality of military and governmental leadership by the amount of shit they receive from Trump and his base.
I really hope he stays healthy, and eventually gets the proper recognition he deserves. This shit right here is how we know the "SUPPORT MUH TROOPS" party is completely full of shit. They're all about patriotism when a football player kneels, but when it comes time to actually supporting the military, they'll gleefully watch decorated career officials get thrown under the obese wheels of the Trump bus.
Look at the Vindmans. They're the best of what America had to offer, and they lost their jobs because one of them dared to tell the truth. These people disgust me with their false patriotism.
slakmehl on April 5th, 2020 at 16:24 UTC »
Reminder that DoD put in place orders in March forbidding any commander from taking any action to protect their troops that might "run afoul with the messaging" of the Trump administration, just days after Trump erupted in fury at the CDC deputy director for (correctly) predicting that the pandemic would arrive in the US.
Those criminally negligent orders compelled Crozier to helplessly watch as his entire carrier - including himself - became infected with a deadly virus. When he acted to save his crewmen, his was fired, and now Trump is making it clear he will personally target Crozier for retribution.
The differences between the US and China are becoming vanishingly small.
WhyAreYouSoMadAtMe on April 5th, 2020 at 16:18 UTC »
A hero for the people.
Regardless of one's feelings about military service, our military is uniquely vulnerable to this outbreak. Sailors assigned to an aircraft carrier literally live on top of one another. I had 250 other men in the compartment I lived in. They have no choice but to follow orders and cannot self isolate. The ship has limited resources for an outbreak like this.
This guy stood up for these men and women who answered the call of duty in a time when the commander in chief is a reality TV clown who will gladly let the disease spread uncontrollably. He deserves a medal and a place in history.