He was fired after criticizing the management of the Covid-19 epidemic on his ship. And had left the boat acclaimed by its sailors.
Will Brett Crozier be reinstated in the end? The results of an investigation into the sacking of the commander of the US nuclear carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, who was removed from office in early April, were presented to US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Friday.
The pressure for the captain to be reinstated continues to mount and several senior US Navy officials have even spoken out in favor of this solution. According to the Pentagon spokesperson, Mark Esper has been verbally briefed on the results of the investigation and is awaiting a written report before making his decision.
The case had earned his post to US Navy secretary Thomas Modly, who had himself dismissed Captain Brett Crozier in early April.
"Our sailors don't deserve to die"
The latter's fault? Having drawn the alarm signal in a letter with dramatic accents to evacuate his immobilized ship on the island of Guam in the Pacific, several cases of Covid-19 having been recorded on board. “We are not at war. Our sailors don't deserve to die, ”he wrote.
His hierarchy had not appreciated that the letter leaked to the press. Several American political leaders, notably in opposition to Donald Trump, have praised the attitude of this officer.
When he left Theodore Roosevelt, the captain had been long and warmly cheered by his crew. About 15% of the sailors in the aircraft carrier tested positive, and one died.
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Fired by Trump, an aircraft carrier commander cheered by his sailors