USS Theodore Roosevelt commander Captain Brett Crozier wrote a letter desperately seeking help from the Navy to save the lives of the 4,000 men and women serving under him from the coronavirus. And now he’s been fired for it.
Crozier’s letter urged the Navy to evacuate the ship to properly quarantine the sailors on Guam after many crew members were stricken with the coronavirus on a close-quartered ship with an inadequate medical bay to handle a pandemic.
He also contradicted Trump’s claim that we are at “war” and the letter leaked to the press, which is how we know that Trump can’t even protect the military from the virus and that his terrible response to the pandemic has weakened national security.
Rather than reward Captain Crozier, however, Trump’s Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly relieved him of command instead.
“I have no doubt in my mind that Captain Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and well-being of his crew,” Modly said. “Unfortunately, it did the opposite. It unnecessarily raised the alarm of the families of our sailors and Marines with no plans to address those concerns.”
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Modly claimed that Crozier “allowed the complexity of the challenge of the COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally.”
Modly also sought to shield Trump by taking credit for punishing Crozier.
“The responsibility for this decision rests with me,” he said. “I expect no congratulations for it. Captain Crozier is an incredible man.”
If he’s so “incredible,” why relieve him of duty? He sought to save lives and bring attention to the plight of his ship. Did Trump and the Navy expect him and 4,000 more sailors to just die in silence so as not to reveal the depths of Trump’s incompetent handling of the pandemic?
Twitter users were outraged by the decision, especially since Trump pardoned a Navy SEAL accused of committing war crimes.
The U.S. Navy will fire a commander for standing up for the safety of his sailors.
It’s not the first time Trump and Esper have fired decorated service members for doing what’s right.
It’s unforgivable, and it will cost lives. https://t.co/r7OXw6BfI7
— VoteVets (@votevets) April 2, 2020
WTF!!! Firing a Navy commander who called out for help saving American sailors. @realDonaldTrump and Secretary Esper, do you hate America? This us as unpatriotic a decision as I have ever heard. https://t.co/2i2n1SzQTt
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 2, 2020
Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt should be given a Medal, not relieved of command.
Rush Limbaugh should be “relieved” of his undeserved Presidential Medal of Freedom.
That Medal should be given to Captain Crozier for trying to save the lives of his crew.
— mollyswordmcdonough 🏡 (@mollysmcdonough) April 2, 2020
Fellow vets, this is unacceptable! This Navy commander did what I hoped all the commanders would do while I served: Look out for his men while trying to accomplish the.mission. If we don’t rise and support him, we’ll have given up everything we fought for. Don’t let him down.
— Keysie (@KeyLargo2) April 2, 2020
It’s time for the military to surround the White House.
— John Zanier (Gio) (@Wolveinsocal) April 2, 2020
But Trump honors Gallagher who murdered children in cold blood while wearing our country’s uniform.
— Trump’s a Russian Virus (@WhiteHouseWacko) April 2, 2020
The firing of Crozier is a national disgrace that our troops and their families won’t soon forget. They need to know they serve under good commanders who won’t take their lives for granted. Crozier should be promoted and hailed as a hero, not the opposite.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons
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