Bubblehead posted some of his thoughts and opinions on CDR Mooney (former USS San Francisco skipper) and the grounding of the USS San Francisco HERE. Some really good inputs in the comments. I think Submariner "Rob" has absorbed way too much radiation or something... I know that the Navy is a cross section of society, but how can you be that far to the left and still serve in the Navy in good conscience... Rob must spend alot of time back aft, cause if he came forward with views like that, I think the "coners" would eat him alive...
As I have mentioned before, I worked for RADM Sullivan a few years back. He is a compassionate commander and would fight like hell if he thought that relieving CDR Mooney was wrong. I have seen him fight for what he believes in. He is determined and tenacious when he feels some wrong needs righted. That he has not stepped in tells me a great deal.
Something else that seems to be missing in the whole "CDR Mooney got a raw deal argument" is that this is the way we do things in the Navy. With Command comes responsibility. Here's the comment I left with Bubblehead:
Come on guys. It has always been this way and it always will be. The CO has ultimate accountability and responsibility for his command. When the sh*t hits the fan, he's the one that has to answer for it.
While I don't have any inside info on what procedures they weren't 100% on, we all know that if there's an incident of any kind and you were operating outside the guidance (regardless of whether "everyone is doing it" or not) you are history. Getting a newly refueled 688 decommissioned and having one of your Sailors die is as about as bad as it gets. Anything less than 100% compliance garuantees getting relieved of command.
That's how our system works. CDR Mooney knew that when he took command.
It is always a shame when the Navy loses a good leader like this, but that accountability and responsibility cannot be delegated to anyone, much less to "fate" or "bad luck".
While that may seem cold and harsh to some, how many Americans would be willing to send their sons and daughters to a Navy that in the event of their death while on duty, attributes their death to "bad luck" or "fate" without holding anyone accountable. Military service can be a very dangerous line of work and those in Command hold a very unique position. With the power and authority comes the responsibility and accountability. We cannot have it any other way.
Nicely said. Nearly every mishap/accident/fatality can be traced back to a poor decision that wasn't necessarily made in the presence of, or with the knowledge of, the Skipper. It is still the CO's responsibility. Good officers seek out this responsibility, both its rewards and its punishments.
Posted by: TUT | 15 February 2005 at 10:00 PM