Bill Cosby's honorary chief status revoked amid controversy

Navy Times — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 09:32:23 -0500

From: Navy Times

Comedy legend Bill Cosby, who's facing renewed allegations of having drugged and sexually assaulted women decades ago, had his status as an honorary chief petty officer revoked Thursday by top Navy leaders.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens rescinded the honorary chief title conferred in 2011, the Navy said in a press release.

Scoop Deck: Former HM3 BiCosby reflects on how Navy service shaped his career

"The Navy is taking this action because allegations against Mr. Cosby are very serious and are in conflict with the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment," the service said in the statement.

In media reports, Cosby's attorney has called the allegations of drugging, groping and assault untrue and defamatory.

Cosby served in the Navy from 1956 to 1960, when he was honorably discharged. He rose to the rank of hospital corpsman third class and served in naval hospitals, where he helped Marines recover from Korean War injuries. He also deployed aboard dock landing ship Fort Mandan.

After winning the prestigious Lone Sailor Award, given to Navy and Marine vets for lifetime accomplishments, in 2010, he credited his naval service for sowing the seeds of his later success.

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2014/12/04/bill-cosby-sexual-assault-navy-chief-honor-revoked/19897577/

Response by SGT Kyle Taylor made Dec 5 at 2014 9:37 AM

SGT Kyle Taylor — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 09:37:41 -0500

So much for the innocent till proven guilty. Just saying my .02 He may have or may not have we dont know yet and still everyone just dragging him through the mud.

Response by PO3 Jack Englehart made Dec 5 at 2014 1:14 PM

PO3 Jack Englehart — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 13:14:06 -0500

I cannot even begin to express how upset i was yesterday when i heard this. To think that theSECNAV and MCPON caved in to this B.S. These are allegations, and not even in court yet.
Even if and when they are proven he is still a veteran and deserves the support of the fleet..
HMC Cosby has my full support

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 1:24 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 13:24:42 -0500

There was a time when the military vehemently stood by its members (and veterans) until allegations of misdeeds were proven beyond the shadow of a doubt... So far as I know, these issues have not even gone to court yet, let alone been decided upon... Apparently, political pressures and "political correctness" run amok, it seems...

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 5 at 2014 1:44 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 13:44:13 -0500

I love how everything that is happening to him is a knee jerk reaction. Where is Al Sharpton and the protest? What happen innocent till proven guilty? I like Cosby and you know if this goes to court and found guilty i will be the first person to say strip him of everything. If he is guilty of this im sorry there is a statute of limitations and that sucks i wish for sexual assault there wasn't one. Probably not the most popular view but you know what here in America you are suppose to be innocent till proven guilty but it seems that only matters if you are caught red handed in a crime.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 2:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:03:47 -0500

Key word, "allegations."

Every single woman in the world could come out of the woodwork and state that Bill Cosby raped/sexually assaulted them, but without proof their claims should be meaningless. Sexual assault is bad, and rape is worse, but assuming a person is guilty until proven innocent is contrary to the fundamental principles of what it means to live in America.

These women offer no proof other than their words against his, stating allegations that are literally unprovable, and Cosby is being raked through the coals for it, and to me that's a damned tragedy. He may have done it, he may not have, the point is that we have absolutely no evidence to support he did and until that changes the man should be assumed innocent of any wrong doing.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 5 at 2014 4:36 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 16:36:02 -0500

I haven't been following this at all and only realized it seeing the tabloids at the check out line. I have lost faith in the media and how they report. Innocent until proven guilty has fallen by the way side in my opinion. We have become a court of public opinion, media hype, and, political correctness at the expense of waiting until all the facts present themselves. I choose to wait before passing judgement.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 5 at 2014 7:39 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:39:03 -0500

We're not talking about him being punished ergo the "innocent until proven guilty" cry is misplaced.

We're talking about the navy removing honors based on his image being inconsistent with navy values, this is something the military often does.

As to those who have commented here that this could all be trumped up, such a claim requires you to believe that 13 different women have chosen to come forward and endure the spotlight and victim-blaming with no hope of conviction (statute of limitations) for some unknown purpose. It also requires you to take his lack of comment over their 13 similar stories.

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/the-cosby-show/382891/

The Rape Accusations Against Bill Cosby Must Not Be Ignored

Declining to seriously reckon with the rape allegations against him is reckless. And I was once reckless.

Response by SPC Richard White made Dec 6 at 2014 9:54 PM

SPC Richard White — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 21:54:45 -0500

I think the Navy was to quick on this.This lady that is accusing him I feel is just trying to make a name for herself and made up the story

Response by SPC John Decker made Dec 7 at 2014 12:11 PM

SPC John Decker — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 12:11:30 -0500

With all of these allegations, has any jurisdiction even convened a grand jury to look into them? Has any prosecutor filed charges? Or is this entire set of circumstances designed to make us not listen to something Bill has to say about something else. It seems to me that this whole thing surfaced shortly after he weighed in on the Ferguson thing. It makes a person wonder what the hell is really going on.