Destroyer CO, master chief removed over fraternization cases

The Virginian-Pilot ^ | 4 Dec 09 | Kate Wiltrout

[GATOR NAVY]

The commanding officer and top enlisted sailor serving on the Norfolk-based destroyer James E. Williams were relieved of command today after numerous cases of fraternization among the crew and allegations of sexual assault.

Cmdr. Paul Marquis, skipper of the Williams, was assigned to administrative duty by Capt. Robert C. Barwis, the commander of Destroyer Squadron 26, according to a Navy spokesman. Master Chief Timothy Youell, who served as the command master chief on the Williams, also has been reassigned to an administrative job.

The actions come in the wake of nine fraternization cases between senior and junior enlisted personnel on the Williams, said Lt. Cmdr. Phil Rosi, a spokesman for the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command. Nine sailors on the Williams received nonjudicial punishment in November for fraternization, a military term for relationships that do not respect differences in rank. The military forbids “unduly familiar” relationships between officers and enlisted sailors, as well as between senior and junior enlisted personnel.

“Such a large number of fraternization cases in one command is a clear indication of a leadership failure,” Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said in a news release. Authority requires both responsibility and accountability, Harvey said, and nobody trusts leaders who think they can’t be held accountable for their actions.

“This leadership failure fostered a command climate that allowed the fraternization to occur. ... The commanding officer and command master chief are being held accountable for the fraternization that occurred on their watch.”

The Navy said it has conducted separate investigations into allegations of sexual assault aboard the Williams, and charges have been filed. A pending Article 32 investigation – the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing – will determine whether to take those cases to courts-martial.

[RWGinger]

I wonder if the ACLU will involve themselves. Many civilians do not understand the level of discipline that must exist in the military for it to be functioning.

[RinaseaofDs]

The LOVE boat . . . . something exciting and new!
The LOVE boat . . . . promises something for everyone!

Set your course for adventure your mind on a new ROmance!

It’s why we called female members - ‘morale gear’ and why dependents HATE coed deployment doctrine.

[brownsfan]

Women on combatant vessels. Who knew this would happen?!

Morons, they deserve this.

[GATOR NAVY]

Not familiar with the term “morale gear” but the Love Boat certainly popped immediately into my head when I read this.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Many civilians do not understand the level of discipline that must exist in the military for it to be functioning."

Indeed. Civilians don't understand that being late for work can be a criminal offense.

[Takethathill]

Oh, for the good old days when 18 year old males in the military didn’t have to worry about this kind of stuff. I was in an Army airborne artillary unit during the first Gulf war. We didn’t have this problem because women weren’t around. It seems to me that a destroyer would have fallen into the same catagory. Well, as long as, this was male/female issues.

[truthguy]

I've said this before and I will say it again. Putting women on Military Ships is a BAD idea. The retired Naval Officers will tell you this.

This notion that all who preceded us were stupid needs to be assailed. No they weren't stupid. It is our generation who is stupid. There are excellent reasons that women should not be on ships. These young people are in their sexual prime. Their hormones are on fire at this age. Putting them in very close proximity to members of the opposite sex is akin to storing gasoline near a furnace. Nature will win out in the end. What does it take for the idiots on these congressional committees to understand. This Political Correctness has done enough damage. Do more tragedies need to occur?

[Retired COB]

I'm sure glad they didn't have women on submarines when I retired (1990). I detest the idea that the politically correct senior officers have allowed our military to become a social experiment in the name of progress.

I still believe that the primary mission of the military is to kill people and break things.

We may have uses for the distaff side, but they should be kept in support positions - not in combat situations. I've got four granddaughters, and the thought of one of them coming home from a future conflict in a body bag just churns my stomach.

[taxcontrol]

In the Army, we called them “gun cleaning kits”. Usually local German girls looking for a GI to marry and take them back to the States. The guys who did tours of Korea and the Philippines said the same.

[B-Chan]

Thank God there were no chicks on the 'Prise when I was in the Navy. Having women on a ship at sea is asking for trouble -- the kind of trouble that gets people killed.

B-chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
GONAVY

[Just another Joe]

Indeed. Civilians don't understand that being late for work can be a criminal offense.

Indeed. Civilians don't understand that being late for a scheduled check in can be a criminal offense.

[Just another Joe]

In the Army, we called them “gun cleaning kits”.

This is my weapon, this is my gun.
This is for fighting, this is for fun.

[ryan71]

I’ve lived and worked aboard warships for extended periods of time. It’s tough when there are no women. It’s much tougher when there ARE women.

[RWGinger]

I don’t know if that was sarcastic or not but even in the military being late is NOT a criminal offense. It can be a dereliction of duty offense which can be a serious charge.
being late for slinging burgers is not the same.

[GATOR NAVY]

Did you see this when it came out? Report: Mullen Backs Women Serving on Submarines

Absolute insanity.

I spent the majority of my sea time on older amphibs that the Navy wasn't going to waste the money on to refit for females. My last ship before I retired was a newer amphib that had females. It was a real eye-opener, and not in a positive way.

[org.whodat]

Do young Navy women on assignment ever finish their sea tours not knocked up????

Hell it's just about that bad in the army as well get knocked up get out of an assignment you don't like. Real good enforcement of equal treatment.

[castlegreyskull]

Just wait, this years graduating Navy Academy and NROTC class, the women will be allowed to enter submarine duty. That means that by October 2011, there will the first of many female officers on a nuclear submarine.

[mainevet]

What an outstanding Navy day! Cmdr Marquis was my Chief Engineer as a LT on Gonzalez when I retired in 99. This couldn’t happen to a nicer A-HOLE. I was just talking to one of my shift partners at work two nights ago about the jerk O’s I’d like to see bent over a s**tcan and this guy was number three on the list. Well that’s two down including Cmdr Tom Nollie and three to go. I believe this calls for another Cape Codder. Have a fine Navy Day. GSEC(SW) mainevet

[mainevet]

I know of at least one. In Gibralter, the Senior Chief and I walked her back to the ship so she wouldn't end ass up in an alley. I gave her a ride to Pa. on my way home after retiring. She was a good Sonar Tech and a good kid.