The U.S. Navy removed Capt. Brett Crozier after he sought help publicly for his sailors following a coronavirus outbreak on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, but the carrier's sailors gave him a different send-off.
As Crozier left the carrier this week, sailors showed their support for their captain, chanting his name and applauding him as he walked off the ship. Leaders in the Pacific Northwest also questioned Crozier's dismissal.
Retired Rear Admirmal Bill Center, who was the Navy region northwest commander, said he did not see the captain as the problem.
"The crew loved this guy, and I guarantee that mothers and fathers and families of those crew members think Capt. Crozier is a hero. And they are right," Center said.
Navy officials says he was removed because the captain did not follow the proper chain of command when he raised his concerns that the Navy was not doing enough to respond to the outbreak. Eventually, the ship docked in Guam.
As of Wednesday, 93 sailors on the U.S.S. Roosevelt tested positive for COVID-19. More than a 1,000 sailors were taken off of the carrier and placed in isolation.
U.S. Navy Acting Secretary Thomas B. Modly explained the decision on Thursday.
"I have no doubt in my mind that Capt. Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and well being of his crew. Unfortunately, it did the opposite. It unnecessarily raised the alarm of families of our sailors and marines with no plans to address those concerns," he said.
Navy officials say Crozier sent a letter over "non-secure unclassified email" to a "broad array of people" instead of going through the normal chain of command.
Center said Crozier's dismissal also sends an additional message.
"We don't know the whole story, but I am personally disturbed by it because I think it sends kind of a chilling message to the other commanders out there about asking for help from higher authority," Center said.
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was part of a committee joint statement that expressed concern over the Navy's handling of Crozier.
“The COVID pandemic presents a set of new challenges and there is much we still do not know. Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately. However, relieving him of his command is an overreaction."