The details of the coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt continue to unravel. On March 30, Capt. Brett Crozier wrote to senior Navy officials about the deadly coronavirus outbreak aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier. The virus was quickly spreading amongst the crew of nearly 5,000 sailors.
According to The New York Times, by the time Capt. Crozier penned the letter, eight sailors had already been evacuated to Guam because of the severity of their COVID-19 symptoms. In fact, one as-of-yet unidentified sailor who tested positive on the very day Capt. Crozier sent that letter passed away this Monday.
That now infamous letter was leaked to The San Francisco Chronicle, which set off a chain reaction. First, Capt. Crozier was almost immediately relieved of duty on the carrier. Video of his send-off went viral as sailors could be heard cheering him and chanting his name. Next, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly personally flew to the USS Roosevelt to address the sailors, at a cost of $243,000 to U.S. taxpayers. Modly created even more outrage when he told the crew the revered captain was “naive” or “stupid.” That sunk like a lead balloon—in leaked audio of the address, sailors shouted back at him in disgust, with one even yelling “What the fuck!” When that audio leaked, the writing was on the wall and it was crystal clear Modly did not have the confidence of the sailors he was entrusted to lead, nor did he have the confidence of the public at large. Modly resigned within hours.
Former naval officials and members of both the House and the Senate have called for an investigation into Crozier’s dismissal. The Navy has promised details on their internal investigation soon.
But there was another detail in the New York Times report that hasn’t gotten very much attention. Not only did Capt. Crozier risk his own career—he protected the senior officers below him. They asked to sign on to the now infamous letter, and he refused. He showed the kind of selflessness that is at the core of military and civic duty. He sacrificed his entire career for the sailors on that ship. Is it any wonder they cheered him so enthusiastically as he departed?
