The fact is, he was hated fairly, and unfairly. Flag officers almost universally despised him. Some of it, no doubt, because he was a former enlisted, non-Annapolis type.
Other,,because he was a Clinton pick, who destroyed countless careers unfairly due to tailhook. He was a Clinton suckup,, and officers who were on duty in desert storm, and missed tailhook completely had careers destroyed and deserved promotions withheld.
It was more than the V thing,,it was him realizing everybody was utterly against him.
I remember an American Spectator article to that effect, not long after it happened.