Posted on Jan 14, 2016
Navy commander in Iran incident graduated from Naval Academy
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http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/naval_academy/ph-ac-cn-david-nartker-navy-academy-apology-iran-0 [login to see] 5-story.html
Is this for real? Is the Code of Conduct not taught at the academy?
Is this for real? Is the Code of Conduct not taught at the academy?
Navy commander in Iran incident graduated from Naval Academy
Posted from capitalgazette.com
Navy
UCMJ
Iran
USNA
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 10
6
6
0
One thing is true. He is done in the US Navy. He will never command even a life raft after that mess
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Capt Lance Gallardo
LT Michael Cavaggioni - The WWII Combat Navy my Kamikaze Dodging and Fighting, Grandpa Jess Lagos, a 5 inch '38 Gun Captain, Served in on the Heavy Cruiser, the USS Guam, fighting for his life in the Sea Battle of the Battle for Okinawa against the Kamikazes, would never surrender their ships while they had the means to resist. THOSE Sailors were truly Army/Marine Infantry moral equivalent fighters, fighting on the Sea, instead of the land. People like JFK and the other PT Boat Skippers who were Run and Gun fighters who went out to Sea LOOKING FOR A FIGHT with America's enemies, like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Where have those surface warfare warriors gone? Or the Destroyer Group Captains, and all the Officers and men of Task Force Taffy 3: The Battle off Samar was the center most action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, which took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island, in the Philippines on October 25, 1944. Their Heroism was made clear by the Novel, "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors." As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces, it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history. The story of the remarkable two-and-a-half-hour sea battle fought on October 25, 1944, in which Rear Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague's task unit, known as "Taffy 3" (7th Fleet's Task Unit 77.4.3), of "jeep carriers" and their "tin can" escorts rose to the impossible challenge of beating back an overwhelming force of Japanese battleships and cruisers under Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita. Survivors of the four U.S. ships lost in the battle—USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), and USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)—then struggled to survive a two-day-ordeal adrift at sea awaiting rescue.[1][2] A fifth ship from Taffy 3, the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), was sunk in a kamikaze attack immediately following the Japanese withdrawal.
THAT US NAVY, MADE FAMOUS BY THEIR FIGHTING SPIRIT AS DOCUMENTED IN THE VICTORY AT SEA SERIES, WHERE HAS THAT NAVY GONE? The Navy that avenged Pearl Harbor at Midway and showed the American People that the US Navy was every bit the equal of the Marines at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, or the Army at Normandy or the Battle of the Bulge, or the Army Air Corps life and death Air Battles over the skies of Europe. Midway, the Battle for the Coral Sea, the Battle for Okinawa at Sea,, the Battle against the Nazi U-Boats in the Atlantic, and the above mentioned Battle off Samar and Task Force Taffy-3 all prove that the US Navy was made of Men that never backed down from a fight, like we apparently saw these Swift Boat sailors surrender without a shot fired in Anger. Too many questions need to be answered about them and our Surface Warfare Warriors right now.
Maybe the Navy needs to put those kind of Surface Warfare Warriors through Army or Marine Corps boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training Schools, to instill the fighting spirit that made the US Navy's Wooden Ships and Iron Men, Heroes in the first place?
Sea Warriors like Captain John Paul Jones ,who when asked to surrender his ship said, "I have not yet begun to fight!" This was the immortal retort of Captain John Paul Jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a British frigate off the northern coast of England during the American Revolution. Or what about, "Don't Give Up The Ship" the dying last words of US Navy Capt James Lawrence in command in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake, again fighting the British on the water.
The US Navy, my family's Navy, my brother in law's Navy (Naval Academy Grad. Lt. Cmndr, and Navy Helo Pilot currently serving) needs to do some serious soul searching about this seemingly act of cowardice to surrender without firing a shot, assuming at least one of the ships was still maneuverable, and had ammunition on board, and the means to repel boarders.
There are reports that assistance was nearby in the form of a US Navy Frigate, and US Warplanes. I am disgusted with the behavior of the ranking officer in charge, the Navy Lt, a Naval Academy grad, with his words and his behavior that he allowed himself to be used in a propaganda video by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
He should have led those men during captivity with his example of non-cooperation, not eating any food offered by the IRG for as long as possible, and at the minimum engaged in passive resistance, ordered the men to look sharp, stop lounging about and to turn their backs to the cameras. Any form of resistance to prove they were trying to honor the Spirit of the Code of Conduct.
Where have those surface warfare warriors gone? Or the Destroyer Group Captains, and all the Officers and men of Task Force Taffy 3: The Battle off Samar was the center most action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, which took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island, in the Philippines on October 25, 1944. Their Heroism was made clear by the Novel, "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors." As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces, it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history. The story of the remarkable two-and-a-half-hour sea battle fought on October 25, 1944, in which Rear Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague's task unit, known as "Taffy 3" (7th Fleet's Task Unit 77.4.3), of "jeep carriers" and their "tin can" escorts rose to the impossible challenge of beating back an overwhelming force of Japanese battleships and cruisers under Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita. Survivors of the four U.S. ships lost in the battle—USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), and USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)—then struggled to survive a two-day-ordeal adrift at sea awaiting rescue.[1][2] A fifth ship from Taffy 3, the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), was sunk in a kamikaze attack immediately following the Japanese withdrawal.
THAT US NAVY, MADE FAMOUS BY THEIR FIGHTING SPIRIT AS DOCUMENTED IN THE VICTORY AT SEA SERIES, WHERE HAS THAT NAVY GONE? The Navy that avenged Pearl Harbor at Midway and showed the American People that the US Navy was every bit the equal of the Marines at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, or the Army at Normandy or the Battle of the Bulge, or the Army Air Corps life and death Air Battles over the skies of Europe. Midway, the Battle for the Coral Sea, the Battle for Okinawa at Sea,, the Battle against the Nazi U-Boats in the Atlantic, and the above mentioned Battle off Samar and Task Force Taffy-3 all prove that the US Navy was made of Men that never backed down from a fight, like we apparently saw these Swift Boat sailors surrender without a shot fired in Anger. Too many questions need to be answered about them and our Surface Warfare Warriors right now.
Maybe the Navy needs to put those kind of Surface Warfare Warriors through Army or Marine Corps boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training Schools, to instill the fighting spirit that made the US Navy's Wooden Ships and Iron Men, Heroes in the first place?
Sea Warriors like Captain John Paul Jones ,who when asked to surrender his ship said, "I have not yet begun to fight!" This was the immortal retort of Captain John Paul Jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a British frigate off the northern coast of England during the American Revolution. Or what about, "Don't Give Up The Ship" the dying last words of US Navy Capt James Lawrence in command in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake, again fighting the British on the water.
The US Navy, my family's Navy, my brother in law's Navy (Naval Academy Grad. Lt. Cmndr, and Navy Helo Pilot currently serving) needs to do some serious soul searching about this seemingly act of cowardice to surrender without firing a shot, assuming at least one of the ships was still maneuverable, and had ammunition on board, and the means to repel boarders.
There are reports that assistance was nearby in the form of a US Navy Frigate, and US Warplanes. I am disgusted with the behavior of the ranking officer in charge, the Navy Lt, a Naval Academy grad, with his words and his behavior that he allowed himself to be used in a propaganda video by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
He should have led those men during captivity with his example of non-cooperation, not eating any food offered by the IRG for as long as possible, and at the minimum engaged in passive resistance, ordered the men to look sharp, stop lounging about and to turn their backs to the cameras. Any form of resistance to prove they were trying to honor the Spirit of the Code of Conduct.
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It is incredible to think we might have an officer that surrendered two boats and crew to the Iranian Coast Guard while still possessing the means to simple motor away. Then he offers apology and makes statements he fully know he should not make. I guess the code of conduct is now optional and perhaps a little passé these days.
First it was a mechanical issue, then a navigational issue. If the boats were still operable they could have left when approached. No one on the boat has a compass and has any idea what direction to go to get back to their ship? Why surrender to the Iranian Coast Guard? It makes no sense at all. There must be more to this which isn't surprising. We get slowly spoon fed the events by this administration to the point no one knows what to believe and the truth is hard to determine.
First it was a mechanical issue, then a navigational issue. If the boats were still operable they could have left when approached. No one on the boat has a compass and has any idea what direction to go to get back to their ship? Why surrender to the Iranian Coast Guard? It makes no sense at all. There must be more to this which isn't surprising. We get slowly spoon fed the events by this administration to the point no one knows what to believe and the truth is hard to determine.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Well-The latest coming out of the "rumor mill" isn't very encouraging. Sounds like not only were other assets able to coordinate a recovery mission with the Iranians, but the craft in question also had at least one bridge to bridge up when they were taken. I truly hope our guys didn't just drop-trou the moment they were approached...but then again, we don't know the particulars of their orders.
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II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
Yeah and how do they surrender their vessels without resisting while they had the means to do so:
Code of Conduct for Members of the United States Armed Forces
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
III. If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
IV. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
V. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause
VI. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
Yeah and how do they surrender their vessels without resisting while they had the means to do so:
Code of Conduct for Members of the United States Armed Forces
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
III. If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
IV. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
V. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause
VI. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
This looks like another black eye for my father's, uncle's, and grandfather's Navy. After so many recent stories of Navy Captains and admirals being relieved for cause. While the US Army Soldiers and Navy Seals/Navy EOD Teams and Marines (with their Navy Corpsmen) have time and time again demonstrated incredible heroism and bravery in ground combat in fourteen years in Iraq and Afghanistan, this incident calls into question the basic fighting spirit of these Navy Surface Warfare Warriors. John McCain is right to be incredibly outraged that they surrendered apparently without a shot fired in defense.
While it is great that they all came back safe and uninjured, you don't join the armed forces with the primary purpose being a safe return form serving in a hostile area of operations? That Navy Lt is going to be facing at the minimum an administrative Hearing/Inquiry and Article 32 investigation and might be facing UCMJ Charges.
While it is great that they all came back safe and uninjured, you don't join the armed forces with the primary purpose being a safe return form serving in a hostile area of operations? That Navy Lt is going to be facing at the minimum an administrative Hearing/Inquiry and Article 32 investigation and might be facing UCMJ Charges.
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LCDR (Join to see)
It makes we "Squids" churn in our chairs as well...make no mistake, I share and admire your feelings. That said, and assuming we know anything resembling the "whole story", I believe we'd be castigating him today regardless of what he did. If he did as I ( think and hope) would've, and scuppered the crippled craft before heading out at 40 knots with both crews safe aboard-We'd be accusing him of losing an asset. If he had tried to make a run for it with the down craft in tow, we'd be saying he put the vessel over the safety of his crew. If he told the Iranians to back-off, and waited for the cavalry...rescue may not have come, and we'd accuse him of indecision. Finally, if he had ordered his crews to "fight the ship", we'd hang the lives of any of our casualties on his head for taking on a larger force, on his own, and without command authorization. At the end of the day, I suppose knowing whether it's better being labeled a "cowboy" or a "coward", depends completely on the cost-In this case, no casualties, no loss of equipment, the only cost being one man's career and a lifetime of being hated by his fellow servicemen. Captain William Rogers and the USS VINCENNES has cast a long, long shadow over the Surface Navy.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
LCDR (Join to see) - The WWII Combat Navy my Kamikaze Dodging and Fighting, Grandpa Jess Lagos, a 5 inch '38 Gun Captain, Served in on the Heavy Cruiser, the USS Guam, fighting for his life in the Sea Battle of the Battle for Okinawa against the Kamikazes, would never surrender their ships while they had the means to resist. THOSE Sailors were truly Army/Marine Infantry moral equivalent fighters, fighting on the Sea, instead of the land. People like JFK and the other PT Boat Skippers who were Run and Gun types who went out to Sea LOOKING FOR A FIGHT with America's enemies, like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Where have those surface warfare warriors gone?
Maybe the Navy needs to put those kind of Surface Warfare Warriors through Army or Marine Corps boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training Schools, to instill that fighting spirit that made the US Navy's Wooden Ships and Iron Men Heroes in the first place?
Sea Warriors like Captain John Paul Jones ,who when asked to surrender his ship said, "I have not yet begun to fight!" This was the immortal retort of Captain John Paul Jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a British frigate off the northern coast of England during the American Revolution. Or what about, "Don't Give Up The Ship" the dying last words of US Navy Capt James Lawrence in command in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake, again fighting the British on the water.
The US Navy, my family's Navy, my brother in law's Navy (Naval Academy Grad. Lt. Cmndr, and Navy Helo Pilot currently serving) needs to do some serious soul searching about this seemingly act of cowardice to surrender without firing a shot, assuming at least one of the ships was still maneuverable, and had ammunition on board, and the means to repel boarders.
There are reports that assistance was nearby in the form of a US Navy Frigate, and US Warplanes. I am disgusted with the behavior of the ranking officer in charge, the Navy Lt, a Naval Academy grad, with his words and his behavior that he allowed himself to be used in a propaganda video by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
He should have led those men during captivity with his example of non-cooperation, not eating any food offered by the IRG for as long as possible, and at the minimum engaged in passive resistance, ordered the men to look sharp, stop lounging about and to turn their backs to the cameras. Any form of resistance to prove they were trying to honor the Spirit of the Code of Conduct.
Maybe the Navy needs to put those kind of Surface Warfare Warriors through Army or Marine Corps boot Camp and Advanced Infantry Training Schools, to instill that fighting spirit that made the US Navy's Wooden Ships and Iron Men Heroes in the first place?
Sea Warriors like Captain John Paul Jones ,who when asked to surrender his ship said, "I have not yet begun to fight!" This was the immortal retort of Captain John Paul Jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a British frigate off the northern coast of England during the American Revolution. Or what about, "Don't Give Up The Ship" the dying last words of US Navy Capt James Lawrence in command in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake, again fighting the British on the water.
The US Navy, my family's Navy, my brother in law's Navy (Naval Academy Grad. Lt. Cmndr, and Navy Helo Pilot currently serving) needs to do some serious soul searching about this seemingly act of cowardice to surrender without firing a shot, assuming at least one of the ships was still maneuverable, and had ammunition on board, and the means to repel boarders.
There are reports that assistance was nearby in the form of a US Navy Frigate, and US Warplanes. I am disgusted with the behavior of the ranking officer in charge, the Navy Lt, a Naval Academy grad, with his words and his behavior that he allowed himself to be used in a propaganda video by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
He should have led those men during captivity with his example of non-cooperation, not eating any food offered by the IRG for as long as possible, and at the minimum engaged in passive resistance, ordered the men to look sharp, stop lounging about and to turn their backs to the cameras. Any form of resistance to prove they were trying to honor the Spirit of the Code of Conduct.
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