Commanders Face Criminal Charges for Ship Collisions That Killed 17 American Sailors
16th January 2018
The commanding officers for two American warships crippled in fatal accidents are facing military criminal charges ranging from negligent homicide to dereliction of duty.
An unusual step that underscores the seriousness of this situation.
Cmdr. Bryce Benson, the former commander of the Fitzgerald, together with three junior officers, face military criminal charges including dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide. Cmdr. Jessie L. Sanchez, former commander of the McCain, faces the same charges, according to USNI News.
Typically officers involved in incidents such as these are merely put somewhere that it’s obvious they have no future in the Navy. They then either retire or resign, depending on how much service they’ve got.