Posted on 07/11/2018 10:49:45 AM PDT by servo1969
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) has pleaded not guilty to charges he committed criminal acts leading up to the collision of the guided-missile destroyer, in a Tuesday arraignment.
Cmdr. Bryce Benson is now set to face a general court-martial on charges of negligence and hazarding a vessel, after entering his plea during a brief hearing before a military judge today. The trial is set for Jan. 28.
Benson was in his stateroom asleep when merchant ship ACX Crystal collided with Fitzgerald on June 17, 2017, off the coast of Japan. The collision resulted in the death of seven sailors. The collision also crushed Benson’s cabin and left him hanging on the side of the ship for 15 minutes before the crew rescued him.
While serious, the charges Benson faces do not include negligent homicide charges that were initially announced by the Navy in January.
The Navy pared back criminal charges against Benson and two junior officers aboard Fitzgerald last month. The move from Adm. James F. Caldwell, the officer in charge of overseeing accountability actions for the collisions of Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), followed a recommendation from an Article 32 hearing officer who recommended the junior officers not face any criminal charges for their roles in the collision.
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For his part, Benson waived his right Article 32 hearing.
Caldwell elected to bring the charges of negligent hazarding a vessel and dereliction of duty resulting in death against Benson and Lt. Natalie Combs. Combs was serving in the destroyer’s Combat Information Center during the collision. Caldwell also determined that Lt. Irian Woodley, who was also on duty in CIC, not face court-martial but be separated from the Navy via an administrative board.
All three received non-judicial punishment soon after the collision, USNI News has learned.
The officer of the deck at the time of the Fitzgerald collision, Lt j.g. Sarah Coppock, pleaded guilty to a single count of negligence for her role in the collision as part of a deal with prosecutors in a special court-martial in May.
McCain’s former commander, Cmdr. Alfredo Sanchez, pleaded guilty to a single count of negligence in a special court-martial. Former McCain Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jeffery Butler, who was responsible for training enlisted watchstanders, pleaded guilty to one count of negligence in a summary court-martial.
In addition to the courts-martial, Caldwell has overseen 18 non-judicial punishments related to both collisions.
Hope his lawyer drags the senior brass through the mud for forcing incompetent affirmative action hires on him with grossly inadequate training. Bring down the whole house of cards.
...and a highly developed sixth sense, not to mention quality senior NCOs to help keep you out of trouble.
No doubt. The Captain’s career will not survive the Court Martial, in fact it was gone before the ship made it back to port . But, as an infantry rifle company commander and as an infantry battalion commander I had to sleep and those who tried to tough it out for long periods made some big mistakes. I haven’t heard of any discussions of a sea cabin. All of the skippers of my era were always in their sea cabin when under way, their main cabin was used when at the quay.
You re only about 5000 miles off on your location and equally removed from the facts.
This captain is the fall guy for political correctness and diversity.
In your day, he would have had the authority to throw these incompetent females off the ship.
OK, I stand corrected on the location. The waters near Singapore are similarly quite hazardous and the Captain should be on deck.
He may indeed be the fall guy, and I standby my opinion he should nonetheless be held accountable for his role.
The women officers should be charged as well.
So you were there and know everything that went down that day. So what was your own testimony in the hearing?
Inquiring minds would like to know......
Understood, centurion. I wonder if this ship crossed the Equator prior to this collision. If this accident occurred shortly after those celebrations, it could be another factor.
You’ll be surprised when you hear my story of a WestPac deployment on the USS Okinawa with a Marine Corps battalion out of Hawaii. I bunked in a cabin for 3 months on the the cruise over with 2 Marine Captains and 1 Navy Doctor.
One of those Marine Captains is our current Secretary of Defense — a highly dedicated and regular guy and I now have the pleasure of remembering a few interesting conversations we had.
We were both the same rank at the time. One of us rose to become a leader of the free world. The other guy is now posting comments on this forum.
Shipmates, foxhole buddies, fellow leaders trying to take care of the troops, it’s nice to see when the good guys make it.
Reminds me of a joke I heard in Hawaii.
Tourist: "Do you pronounce it Hah-why-ee or Hah-vah-ee ?"
Local: "It's pronounced Hah-vah-ee."
Tourist: "Thanks."
Local: "You're velcome."
Hard to believe they did not have eyeballs on deck to watch for other ships. That container ship was lite up like a Christmas tree. Eyeballs on deck would have seen it miles away.
Not guilty
US Navy stopped teaching basic seamanship several years ago. They might want to revisit that decision.
I know of no examples either, doubt there were any. Though in May 1996 CNO Admiral Jeremy Boorda committed suicide just before an interview with David Hackworth. Supposedly Hack was going to inquire about ribbons Boorda wore that he may not have been entitled to wear.
missed by 3300 mile. The Fitzgerald collision took place near Sagami Wan, the entrance to Tokyo Bay, Japan
Yes, sorry my memory failed me.
“I had no choice but to shoot him, judge, my wife was in danger.”
“Mr Redd, our records show you aren’t married.”
“Never said I was.”
“Are you Mr John Redd, of Hawaii?”
“Yes. Honowuwu.”
I meant NOT that he should never sleep, but that he was being held responsible WHILE he was asleep.
All he can do is give order then go to sleep. Did he give bad orders?
I would say if he KNEW that the two women were having a hen fight he should have had them both in for a dressing down.
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