Posted on 08/16/2010 7:01:26 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan The captain of the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu was relieved of command Sunday during an investigation into improper relationships with his crewmembers.
Navy investigators are probing allegations that Capt. David A. Schnell acted in an unprofessional manner toward several crew members that was inappropriate, improper and unduly familiar, according to a Navy news release.
Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and 5th Fleet, officially relieved Schnell on Sunday due to loss of confidence in his ability to command, according to the release.
Capt. Mark E. Cedrun, chief of staff for Expeditionary Strike Group 3, will temporarily command the USS Peleliu until a permanent replacement is named, according to the news release.
Peleliu is currently aiding in relief efforts to flood-ravaged Pakistan, according to Navy reports. Marine Corps helicopters aboard the ship have the strength to lift 16 tons of food and equipment to the millions of people displaced by the disaster, the Navy said.
Schnell is the 12th commanding officer to be relieved in 2010. The Navy removed seven commanding officers between Jan. 1 and March 15 alone. Seventeen commanders were relieved in 2009.
Reasons for the firings this year have ranged from public alcohol abuse and prostitute solicitation to running a ship into a pier.
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
Zipper malfunction again?
Was Massa present and was there a tickle fight......?
“running a ship into a pier”
oops
Don’t ask, don’t tell.
John F. Kennedy ran a PT boat into a pier and he didn’t get fired.
What is he alledged to have done which caused his releif?
It never ceased to amaze me that Kennedy could get his PT Boat sliced in two by a Japanese destroyer — a ship that is much bigger, slower and less maneuverable than a PT boat — and somehow come out a hero for it.
I met a man in Tulsa who was a Captain in the same squadron as Kennedy. He said Kennedy was well liked but getting rammed was the worst thing that could happen to a PT boat. They were the fastest thing on the sea.
I think Kennedy did act heroically after the boat was rammed but he probably should have been at least court marshalled for that.
Hey feed some Americans First!!!!
Male or female crew members?
Because of daddy?
It’s hard to imagine how it even happened.
Either they were not standing watch very good or they were dead in the water and the destroyer rammed them intentionally.
But, if they were DIW, ramming would not be necessary. A single shell from a five-incher would blow a PT boat to hell and gone.
JFK ran his PT boat in to a destoryer, too.
"..While Nimitz was a 22-year-old ensign in the Philippines and conning the destroyer Decatur, his ship ran aground on a mudbank. However, he successfully rescued a man overboard when the ship ran into the mudbank. Nimitz was court-martialed and convicted of hazarding a Navy ship and received a letter of reprimand.[4].."
We always knew he was whoopsie.
JFK was a Kennedy. The rules don’t apply.
I read a transcript of an interview of the Japanese Captain of the destroyer. It was made some time ago. He definitely rammed the PT boat on purpose. Their lookout spotted it but Kennedy’s did not spot the far larger destroyer.
The Kennedy PT boat was running with several others specifically for the purpose to spot Japanese ships. That is what looks so bad in that trying to see Japanese ships was what they were supposed to be doing yet let one ram them.
IIRC, his father hired people to research this incident and figure out a way to whitewash it. There may have been involvement in the War Department. Joe Kennedy was very influential back then, and was showered with sympathy after the death of his eldest son Joe, who ironically was the victim of another equipment-related failure, and is also remembered as a hero.
I’m retired Navy. During my duty time I observed several lousy COs. Most COs I served under were good officers, but some were incompetent; others totally self-centered. The problem has always been flag meddling. Admirals would pick a favorite junior and then mentor him/her up the ranks until they got command. Bad behavior or incompetence were swept under the rug. Once they got command, their bad behavior or stupidity would become public. The reverse was also true. One of my Navy buddies was a real “water walker;” just superb in every way. However, he married a woman he met in the Philippines, to which an admiral objected based upon the admiral’s prejudices. My friend was never given the command he so richly deserved because of several bad marks in “leadership” due to his marriage. That the pace of reliefs of command has accelerated shows both that this has not stopped and that the Navy now reacts like a frightened dog to any negative news. It’s a true mess. Obama’s hatred of the military just makes it worse; his guys look for examples of bad behavior in the military som the Left can demand action be taken. The fact that Obama is unfit to sweep a deck just adds a layer of hypocracy.
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