What made the case of Navy Capt. Holly Graf - relieved of command aboard the USS Cowpens last year for "cruelty and maltreatment" toward her crew - so compelling was the anger she generated among those who had served under her. Dozens of sailors and officers, in interviews, and hundreds, in blog posts online, expressed a profound dislike for the command climate she created aboard the vessels on which she deployed over many years.
So it just seems fair to note that Capt. Owen Honors, now under investigation for his raunchy videos as the No. 2 officer aboard the carrier USS Enterprise several years ago, seems to be generating largely positive reviews from those who served under him. More than 1,200 people have clicked "like" at a Facebook page supporting him created following the videos' surfacing over the weekend. A representative sample of the remarks posted there - from those who claim to get served with him on the carrier, or had a loved one that did - include:
"I was on the Enterprise during 2007 when these videos aired. They were funny and boosted morale and he was a good XO. He doesn't deserve this." - Brian Malvin
"I too was onboard the USS Enterprise for the 06 and 07 deployments. When I heard that Captain Honors was coming back to serve as the CO, I was thrilled! He was a great XO and the videos were intended as a morale booster.Captain Honors was extremely personable.when he left the ship, so did the morale." - Jennifer Awiza
"I, like many of you, have served this great Navy for 19 plus years. CAPT `OP' Honors is one of the best leaders I get always served with. I was onboard Big `E' from 2005 to 2008 and watched the morale go through the ceiling after he took over as XO and watched it slide out after he left. He was very mission oriented, yet he knew how to let loose, in an SNL type of way. If you were there, you remember, every one of the 6,000 plus crew looked forrad to XO movie night (the mess decks were standing room only).those nights were the mouth of the transport and they carried us through the week until the following episode." - Tony Backer
"...as a partner of a Sailor who as a count of fact just over his spell on the USS Enterprise and who served under Capt. Honors.I adore this man! He tried to get people laugh and get their minds off of not being with their families." - Kourtney Lia Davis
That's why the Navy finds itself in a muddle here. Punishing an officeholder who generates such huzzahs from his crew carries a substantial likelihood of collateral damage across the fleet.