The video below was one of my presents to my girlfriend Nora this year. She loved it, and I am pretty sure her folks did too... It's like a digital scrap book of the last year of our lives together.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-28/story/mayport_sailor_charged_with_using_false_name_for_2_decades

It is my first day back at work after my Christmas leave period, and on my way in I hear news about a 41 year old Chief Petty Officer who was arrested for using a false identity for the past 22 years. I know the man as Arturo Puente, but the State Department says the real Arturo Puente died in 1980 at age 11 — shortly after his mother says his birth certificate was stolen in Oregon.

It only makes me realize how little we really now about those with whom we work. In my line of work I have to put a great deal of faith and trust in those with whom I serve, and needless to say this came a quite a shock. I just don't know what to make of the whole thing. I always liked the guy, now being referred to as "John Doe" by law enforcement agencies. I never had a reason to distrust him, which makes this an even more striking realization in my mind.

I don't know how things are going to turn out for Arturo, but I don't expect he'll be on board much longer, I am sure he won't be getting underway with us. And frankly, I don't know how I feel about any of it.

I got word of all of this on NPR as I drove into work. Naturally, the command wanted to keep things as quiet as possible, but between NPR and the story breaking on the front page of the Florida Times Union, it was impossible to keep the story silent, and now rumors abound on the mess decks. I won't contribute to those rumors, nor do I intend to make any real commentary beyond the expression of my own shock, I don't believe rumors benefit anyone in a case like this. We'll see what happens... actually, we probably won't.

The Times-Union Story is here:
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-28/story/mayport_sailor_charged_with_using_false_name_for_2_decades

A sweeping fraternization and sexual assault scandal erupted on the destroyer, USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) this fall while it was on deployment in the Mediterranean, prompting Navy officials to fire the ship's skipper and top enlisted man, and kick five Chiefs out of the Navy on December 4th.

The case also drew rare public rebukes from the Navy's top Master Chief.

The ship's commanding officer, CDR Paul Marquis, and Command Master Chief Timothy Youell were removed and placed on desk duty, said LCDR Phil Rosi, a spokesman for Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.

The two leaders were not accused of misconduct but were blamed for the ship's poor climate after wide spread reports of misconduct. Two sexual assault allegations are under investigation, and nine Sailors have received nonjudicial punishments for fraternization - five male Chiefs and four female Petty Officers, Rosi said.
"The James E. Williams' Commanding Officer and Command Master Chief are being held accountable for the fraternization that occurred on their watch," Admiral John Harvey, head of Fleet Forces Command, said in a statement. "Such a large number of fraternization cases in one command is a clear indication of a leadership failure. This leadership failure fostered a command climate that allowed the fraternization to occur. The responsibility of the Commanding Officer for his or her command is absolute."

Both men, reached at their homes December 4th, said they had no comment.

The ship left Norfolk on April 20th, and the investigation began when the ship's leadership received a sexual assault allegation while still deployed Sept. 30. As Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) agents began that probe, officials received a set of allegations that included fraternization and an apparently unrelated sexual assault, Rosi said.

Navy officials preferred charges against one Sailor as a result of one of the sexual assault allegations, which will be investigated at an upcoming Article 32 hearing. The other sexual assault allegation remains under investigation and may draw further charges, Rosi said. He said the sexual assault allegations were apparently unrelated, but he provided no further details on the cases.

The five Chiefs accused of fraternization will be separated from the Navy, Rosi said. The four women who received nonjudicial punishments included one First Class Petty Officer, two Second Class Petty Officers and one Third Class Petty Officer, Rosi said.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Rick West said this was a failure of the Chief's Mess.

"Absolutely unsat," West said in a statement sent to Navy Times. "Chief petty officers are supposed to be the standards for integrity. What those E-7s did was deplorable leadership and a clear violation of the trust our sailors are supposed to have in the CPO mess."

The commanding officer was replaced by CDR Anthony Linardi. The Command Master Chief was replaced by Command Master Chief James Stuart.

The ship's executive officer, CDR Daniel Sunvold, has been reassigned as XO of the destroyer Bainbridge. He was not accused of any misconduct, the spokesman said.
"By reassigning him, the Navy is providing both James E. Williams and CDR Sunvold the opportunity for a fresh start, with a new leadership team," according to the Fleet Forces statement.

Marquis is the 13th skipper fired this year - the most since 2003, when the Navy relieved 26 Cos, an unusually high number.

Williams returned from its deployment to 5th and 6th Fleets on Oct. 19.

I am glad to say it has been a very merry Christmas for me. I received an abundance of gifts, more than I deserve in my opinion. I spent the holiday with my girlfriends family and was welcomed in like a member of the family. Everyone was very gracious. To be fair, I have been a friend of the family for over 15 years, and I have been dating their daughter for 3 years.

Christmas could not have been better. I feel well prepared to take on the challenges of my upcoming deployment and the two week break was exactly what I needed to help me recharge my batteries for work. I cannot say I am looking forward to the deployment, but I am ready, and I am looking forward to finishing it.

For now, I am maximizing the time I spend with my loved ones, so I am keeping this post short. Pictures to follow soon...

NORFOLK - The commander and command master chief of a Norfolk-based destroyer have been relieved of their duties after reports of crew fraternization and allegations of sexual assault.

The atmosphere aboard the USS James E. Williams represented a clear instance of leadership failure, said Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Cmdr. Paul Marquis and Master Chief Petty Officer Timothy Youell, the command master chief, have been reassigned to administrative duties at Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

"This leadership failure fostered a command climate that allowed the fraternization to occur," Harvey said. "The responsibility of the commanding officer for his or her command is absolute. It is our tradition that with responsibility goes authority, and with them both goes accountability."

The nine sailors — five male chiefs and four female petty officers — received nonjudicial punishment after an investigation substantiated charges of fraternization between senior and junior enlisted personnel on the ship.

The five male chiefs are being processed for administrative separation from the Navy, said Lt. Cmdr. Phil Rosi, a spokesman for Navy Fleet Forces Command.

One investigation of sexual assault has resulted in charges being filed. The other, unrelated case remains under investigation, Rosi said.

The ship's executive officer, Cmdr. Daniel D. Sunvold, is not accused of any wrongdoing. However, he is being transferred to the USS Bainbridge to give him — and the USS James E. Williams — the opportunity for a fresh start with a new leadership team, the Navy said.

Marquis will be replaced by Cmdr. Anthony J. Linardi. The prospective command master chief for the USS Williams is Master Chief Petty Officer James Stuart.