‘He deserves a medal’: Relieved captain of US warship plagued with coronavirus receives enthusiastic sendoff from crew members

The threat that the coronavirus pandemic poses to the U.S. military has been evident this week with reports of COVID-19 spreading on the USS Teddy Roosevelt, a warship in the Pacific Ocean. After warning about the outbreak, Capt. Brett Crozier (who was commanding the ship) was relieved of his duties. But he is being praised for his efforts to save the lives of those on board the warship.

A video posted on Twitter shows Crozier’s crew giving him a very appreciative sendoff and a huge round of applause. Twitter user @MotherOfDoggons, posting the video, wrote, “USN Capt Crozier’s send off from his crew after being relieved for putting the lives of his Troops before his career. A great leader, and this video speaks volumes.”

But no good deed goes unpunished, and @MotherOfDoggons is highly critical of the U.S. Navy’s response to Crozier’s warnings. @MotherOfDoggons wrote, “The @USNavy has failed its sailors today…. This is such an injustice.”

Other Twitter users who saw the video shared @MotherOfDoggons’ high opinion of Crozier.  @aleise_ wrote, “The video of him actually walking away made my heart hurt. He seems so sad and proud at the same time. And @Leta_says wrote, “He is a hero who put his crew before anything! They turned a blind eye and he had to take extreme measures and it exposed the higher ups incompetence! He deserves a metal.”