Captain of the Enterprise fired for making inappropriate videos

[USS Excelsior]

Navy officer to be relieved of his command, defense official says

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/04/navy.videos/index.html

Navy Capt. Owen Honors, who produced profanity- and slur-laden videos while second in command of the USS Enterprise, has been relieved of his command of the ship, a senior defense official told CNN Tuesday.

Excerpts from the videos and descriptions of their content were first published Saturday by The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Virginia.

The videos on the paper's website, reviewed by CNN, feature a man identified by two Navy officials and The Virginian-Pilot as Honors, who at the time was the executive officer, or second in command, of the aircraft carrier. He recently took command of the carrier, winning one of the most coveted assignments in the U.S. Navy, which has only 11 aircraft carriers.

Navy spokesman Cmdr. Chris Sims said the videos, which were shown to the crew of the Enterprise while on deployment supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, are "inappropriate."

Honors is shown cursing along with other members of his staff in an attempt to demonstrate humor, according to the videos.

There are also anti-gay slurs, simulated sex acts, and what appear to be two female sailors in a shower together.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/bestoftv/2011/01/04/exp.nr.owen.honors.fired.cnn.640x360.jpg

 

[Chaos Descending]

I am still acquainted with several sailors on the Enterprise, and most of them who where there when that vid was made and shown seem to think that the entire thing is being blown out of proportion.

 

[ThankQ]

I am still acquainted with several sailors on the Enterprise, and most of them who where there when that vid was made and shown seem to think that the entire thing is being blown out of proportion.

I'm sure they think that, but they're wrong.

In fact, can I take a stab at fixing everybody? I get tired of hearing "the incident was blow out of proportion".

In something like this, it's not the incident that's out of proportion, it's the PERSON that's out of proportion. Second in command of one of 11 US aircraft carriers is way out of proportion with the "man on the street".

HE is out of proprtion to most of the rest of us, that's what makes this a big deal. When I scream and curse, people just say, "better find grandpa's pills" and get on with life. But the most powerful vessel I command is a self-propelled Toro. That's why no one cares.

 

[Sector 7]

I agree with Admiral Harvey's decision. As a senior officer, Honors showed a serious lack of judgment. When one is in charge of so many sailors and soldiers, good judgment is absolutely necessary. Sorry folks, but since the Tailhook scandal broke in 1991, the good ole boys making fun of anyone and everyone different is no longer acceptable in the US Navy.

The most damaging piece of evidence comes from Honors. He acknowledges that it is offensive and that there have been many complaints made against his videos. At this point, a good commander (or XO) should have used restraint and proper judgment. Honors did not. He is fortunate to get off with only an administrative post... he could have been sacked.

 

[Satyrquaze]

Someone has to say it:

Kirk would be proud.

 

[TrickyDickie]

Over the years, a couple of my brothers served aboard Midway, Coral Sea, Eisenhower, and Nimitz. This kind of thing goes on all the time. Just ask the 'wogs' who cross the equator for the first time. They go through an initiation that involves things like licking mustard off some hairy belly.

If an activity doesn't actually hurt anyone, why make a big fuss? Especially if it has no effect on the performance of duty, which, from what they have been saying about this skipper, it evidently didn't.

That was the whole problem with the Clinton-Lewinsky business. It was seedy, but it didn't have an impact on governing the country until people made a big deal out of it.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Someone has to say it:

Kirk would be proud.

Kirk was a professional officer. This guy sounds like a jerk. Finnegan is a more apt comparison.

 

[Chaos Descending]

This guy was well loved his crew and by his superiors.

 

[RJDiogenes]

USS Excelsior, you've been cautioned before about Posting hot-linked images. You should also know better than to Post a link to an article with no original commentary of your own. I'm closing the Thread and giving you a Warning for Spamming. If you want to open a new Thread on this Topic with added commentary of your own and no hot-linked images, you can feel free to do so.