Let’s think about Detroit bus driver Jason Hargrove.
He was a hard-working, public employee, who got so upset over an unprotected coughing passenger that he went on Facebook to bitterly complain about unappreciated blue collar workers not being respected as they labored to serve the public. His post was viewed by more than 500,000 people.
Ten days later, Jason Hargrove died of complications from COVID-19.
Sadly, it took his death for Detroit officials to take action. Now passengers enter and exit the bus from the back door. The rides are free to keep people away from the fare boxes near drivers. Protective gear is provided to drivers.
Our hats should be off to Jason Hargrove and all the other heroes who toil under unbelievably risky situations, to provide the basic services we need to survive during this time of social distancing.
Now consider a very complicated situation. Navy Captain Brett Crozier who commanded the nuclear aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt was relieved of duty for his memorandum that stated “decisive action is required now” to contain the spread of Coronavirus among his 4,000 crew members and “prevent tragic outcomes.” He said, “We are not at war.”
Members of his crew did not need to die unnecessarily.
An aircraft carrier is a multi-billion dollar investment. Most importantly, it is the home of more than 4,000 sailors and pilots who are packed in like sardines. With more than 70 sailors testing positive and the cases growing quickly, something needed to be done.
Ranking officers are expected to take decisive action. They are trained to do so. He wrote a memorandum seeking guidance and action. His mistake was copying nearly 30 people, one of whom released the plea for guidance to the media. For this breach of chain of command, he was relieved of duty.
The video of his leaving the ship to the cheers of his crew should remained seared into our national consciousness as an example of self-sacrifice versus self-aggrandizement.
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly justified the relief from duty by saying the Navy was already seeking housing for the infected sailors on Guam where the ship was docked. Not a small task, but mobile units are available all over the world for rapid deployment.
The truth of whether Captain Crozier is a hero who put his crew before his career or someone who dangerously ignored the chain of command and established protocols will eventually come out. It always does.
Most importantly – in both situations – action is underway to resolve Coronavirus employee safety needs, due sadly from the death of one bus driver and the end of a career for an aircraft carrier captain. Right, wrong or somewhere in-between, their courage and sacrifice should be respected by us all.
When you see someone who is working in a risky situation, take a minute and thank them for their service. It isn’t hard to do and appreciation goes a long way.
Roger Carlton is a columnist for The Graham Star.