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Sailors Cheer Navy Captain Relieved Of Command After Raising Coronavirus Alarm

Sailors Cheer Navy Captain Relieved Of Command After Raising Coronavirus Alarm

Crozier had urged officials to remove his crew of 5,000 sailors from the ship to help slow the virus

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Video footage shows the moment a crowd of sailors applaud and wave their captain off the ship after he was relieved of command for raising concerns about an outbreak of coronavirus on board.

Captain Brett Crozier was ousted from his duties on Thursday (2 April) after he wrote to Navy commanders outlining his concerns about the spread of the virus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, sending a letter that was then leaked to the media.

The ship had been pulled into port in Guam several days after multiple crew members tested positive for the virus, with a total of 93 positive results by Wednesday. More than 1,000 people were also taken off the carrier and placed into isolation on land in Guam.

Crozier had urged officials to remove his crew of 5,000 sailors from the ship to help slow the virus, but Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly has since said the captain demonstrated 'extremely poor judgment' in the middle of a crisis.

Captain Brett Crozier.
PA

Modly said Crozier was removed from his post because his letter was sent over 'non-secure unclassified email' to a 'broad array of people', as opposed to going up the chain of command.

"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."

However, his sailors clearly disagree - having given him a loyal send-off.

They can be seen in the video chanting 'Cap-tain Cro-zier!' as he left the ship, while also applauding him.

One Twitter user shared the video in a now-viral post, writing: "Wrongfully relieved of command but did right by the sailors."

PA

The tweet has now been liked more than 14,000 times, with one person commenting: "Heartbreaking. He's relieved of duty after raising the alarm that his carrier is infected by the virus. And the navy folks are GRATEFUL. There's a hero."

Another added: "A true hero. A leader in this time when we need leaders. We salute you."

In a statement, a group of sailors from the ship said: "Modly has broken faith with the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

"There was nothing alarming or sensationalist in Capt. Crozier's letter," the statement said.

"It was simply a recitation of the bleak facts facing this warship. Capt. Crozier has the full faith and confidence of this crew, who would sail with him again at a moment's notice."

Today (3 April), Modly told Reuters an investigation would determine if Crozier should face disciplinary action.

He said: "He'll get reassigned, he's not thrown out of the Navy."

Featured Image Credit: YouTube

Topics: News, US News