Pentagon Chief Defends Firing Of Navy Captain Who Voiced Virus Concern
April 5, 2020
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday defended the firing of a naval commander whose plea for help for a coronavirus-affected crew angered his superiors but drew widespread public support.
Esper told ABC that Navy Secretary Thomas Modly “made a tough decision, tough call” in deciding to fire Captain Brett Crozier, commander of the carrier USS Roosevelt, whose plea to the Pentagon to allow him to quickly vacate the ship after it docked in Guam became public.