Brett Crozier, former captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, probably knew he was violating strict discipline in the military when he wrote a letter calling on his superiors to evacuate nearly 5,000 crew members trapped on the disease-infected warship.
However, friends and colleagues of Crozier say the 50-year-old colonel is satisfied with the decision that will likely end the glorious career he built.
Colonel Brett Crozier gave orders to the crew on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in January.
Colonel Crozier grew up in the city of Santa Rosa, California, started his career as a helicopter pilot, then transferred to flying a flat-wing aircraft, then took on the position of commander of the F/fighter squadron.
Crozier attended the navy’s nuclear energy training school to learn how to operate a warship with two Nimitz-class nuclear reactors like the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Crozier took command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in November 2019, right before this warship was deployed to the western Pacific, ready to respond to any emergency situations, such as the North Korea issue or
However, Crozier and his crew had little preparation for the situation that occurred on March 24.
Two days later, amid concerns about the disease spreading uncontrollably on the ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam, where there is a hospital and a large naval base.
The turning point occurred on March 31, when Crozier’s four-sided letter to his superiors was published in The San Francisco Chronicle.
`This is not wartime. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act immediately, we will fail to properly protect our most trusted asset, our sailors.`
Crozier’s move angered Acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly.
Modly judged Crozier to have been `overwhelmed` by the crisis and dismissed the colonel due to loss of confidence in his ability to command.
According to NY Times commentators Eric Schmitt and John Ismay, Crozier’s removal caused the US Navy to face criticism that it did not pay enough attention to soldiers’ health.
Crozier’s classmates at the US Naval Academy, most of whom have since left the military, said their closed Facebook groups were flooded with posts and comments supporting the former captain.
`He is one of the best people I have ever known, both professionally and personally,` said Jeff Craig, a veteran who studied and accompanied Crozier on many missions.
Craig said that during his time on duty aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015, the crew regularly performed exercises to respond to battle damage, fires and many other disasters, but never
`Crozier always prioritizes the best interests of his crew. I’m sure the situation is the same. Given Crozier’s personality, he doesn’t tend to make hasty or thoughtless decisions
Dan Goldenberg, another of Crozier’s classmates, said that `Either way, Modly is wrong.`
Colonel Crozier is being quarantined on Guam island with symptoms of a dry cough, several sources familiar with the matter revealed.
At least 400 sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt who tested negative for nCoV are expected to be taken from the ship to hotels on the island, along with 625 other sailors who previously received negative results.
Quarantined sailors are not allowed to leave their rooms or receive alcoholic beverages or food from outside.
None of Crozier’s friends foresaw this scenario.
`Can you imagine devoting your whole life to the navy like Crozier, making the right call to help the crew, and then receiving such an outcome? I feel confused,` Goldenberg said.
