Posted on Apr 30, 2018
Hearing Date Set for Commander in USS Fitzgerald Collision
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Maritime
7th Fleet
UCMJ
Posted 6 y ago
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PO1 Tony Holland PO3 Bob McCord When I was OOD U/W on USS Bainbridge CGN-25 (abt 1983-1987) I fully understood the ramifications of a collision at sea, mainly because of superior training by a great skipper. But also because I was present at a collision at sea off the coast of Saigon in 1969. The USS Frank E. Evans DD-754, one of our USS Kearsarge CVS-33 battle-group Destroyers and the HMAS Melbourne South east of Saigon, South Vietnam. On 3 June 1969 at about 0300, The Evans was cut right in half between the two stacks, and the bow sunk in less than 2 minutes. 74 men went down with the forward half of that ship, and not a single body came up. The aft section stayed afloat. The crew in the aft section were in bad shape due to fire, steam, and the fact that the entire ship rolled 90 degrees. The men had no idea what the aft section was going to do so many jumped into the sea. Our ship pulled many out of the sea and returned them to Kearsarge, and Melbourne pulled many from the sea as did the other Desron 21 Destroyers. about 200 survived. The view at sunrise was something I never forgot as an OOD U/W. I made sure every Skunk (Surface Contact) was well studied and I always took the appropriate action and the appropriate calls to the Skipper and chats with CIC, Navigation and with ALL my lookouts as well as the signalman!!
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LCDR (Join to see)
CWO3 Dennis M. Warrant I have no doubt had you been the OOD that night on the USS Fitzgerald we would not be having this discussion. The Fighting Fitz would not be a household name, that night would have fading into history unknown to the rest of the world except those sailors who would have had a peaceful night of sleep or watch. That is what angers me so much about this incident, an OOD like you and I killed 7 shipmates and ruined the career of countless more.
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CWO3 Dennis M.
LCDR (Join to see) - Thank you for that vote of confidence Bill. I have great respect for you, so your comment means a lot to me.
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Collision of billion-dollar ships is never a good thing. What was the outcome of the informal inquiry in this case; is the CO being made into the fall person here or is it an open-shut case; did IG or NavSec investigate properly?
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MCPO Roger Collins
That fundamental premise is being eroded over time, LCDR Bell wright, sad to say.
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CDR Dan Cunningham
LCDR (Join to see) - As a Senior Watch Officer on a CG, nothing irritated me more than having to put some OOD's in the daytime only watches and the best on the nighttime. I earned my quals on a CVN and for 18 months there were only three of us, all equally capable of handling anything that happened. Equally important, in my opinion, was the fact we could do anything we wanted in our nighttime steaming box (normally 400 sq NM), and we took full advantage of it. I was shocked (and disappointed) when I arrived on a 'real ship' and the Night Orders directed steaming from Point 'A' to 'B' to 'C' to 'D' and repeat all night long, calling the CO prior to each turn.
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
LCDR (Join to see), perhaps the JO needed another dose of training; perhaps she is a slow learner. Ships and boats are multi-million dollar vessels with millions of dollars in armaments aboard and a staff. The JO, in the absence of the CO, must be capable of making sound decisions in very short order or lives or loss can be at stake. Nuclear ships are a much bigger threat in collision. I suggest retraining and re-testing the JO on Commanding a Ship. I also suggest that the CO be given a second chance in Command.
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
The CO is ultimately held responsible for the Ship LCDR (Join to see), yet his XO takes all, if not most decisions on deck. For example, a JO is reported AWOL by the XO in his capacity as acting CO. The JO was actually at sick-call with the knowledge of his Command. During investigations, the CO pleaded ignorance of the law before the IG and the XO was never questioned. TIGs are usually 3-star GOs and the failure to question the XO, whose decision it was to make a false report with corrupt intent, must rest with the 3-star TIG, in your opinion Sir???
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Suspended Profile
The article says it is unusual to charge officers in a collision, but that's just not true.
LCDR (Join to see)
Agree, the officers are always held responsible. Look at the collision of the USS Belknap (CG-26) and the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), both COs (Charged), CG OOD (guilty), no enlisted where charged in the matter but like the Fighting Fitz all the dead were enlisted.
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