Captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt relieved of duty

The commander of the US aircraft carrier knocked out of action by a COVID-19 outbreak after a visit to Vietnam has been relieved of duty.

CAPTION: USS Theodore Roosevelt exercises with US Air Force out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, on 20 March 2020. Photo from USS Theodore Roosevelt Facebook page.

USS Theodore Roosevelt is currently in Guam with nearly half its crew being removed into isolation after almost 100 tested positive to COVID-19.

Captain Brett Crozier, Roosevelt’s commanding officer, had earlier written a desperate plea for help to his superiors, saying “We are not at war, and therefore cannot allow a single sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily”.

“Decisive action is required now,” Captain Crozier said in his letter which was leaked to the media.

Acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the commander had “exercised extremely poor judgement” and relieved him from command of the ship – though he will apparently get to keep his rank.

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