Post date: Jan 04, 2011 10:34:38 PM
The navy officer who aired lewd videos for the crew of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier is relieved of his command.
NBC - The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier was relieved of his command on Tuesday (January 4) after producing bawdy videos that featured slurs against homosexuals, simulated masturbation and toilet humor.
The widely expected decision to remove Captain Owen Honors from the USS Enterprise was announced by Admiral John Harvey, commander of the Navy's Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.
"His profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on
Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to continue to serve effectively in command," Harvey said.Honors produced, starred in and circulated the videos aboard ship three or four years ago, when he was second in command of the nuclear-powered carrier. He was later promoted to command the Enterprise.
It was not clear why the issue suddenly came to light years after the fact.
The videos, which include sexually suggestive scenes of women showering together and a mock anal exam, were broadcast over the ship's closed-circuit television system as movie night entertainment for the 5,800 crew members and aviators.
The videos first surfaced over the weekend in the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, which serves Norfolk where the carrier is based. It made excerpts available on its website.
The Virginian-Pilot said the Navy acknowledged putting a stop to the broadcasts after learning about their existence.
Honors has made no public statement but supporters rose to his defense on Facebook, where they applauded his leadership and described the videos as morale boosters.