Retro Awards: Navy Admits Error...What's your opinion on why this one happened?

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 11:45:19 -0500

http://www.stripes.com/news/navy-admits-error-honors-world-war-ii-captain-s-bravery-in-sinking-of-u-boat-1.320266

Navy admits error, honors World War II captain's bravery in sinking of U-boat

The Navy has posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit with a Combat ‘V” device to Herbert G. Claudius, 72 years after it dismissed his claims that he and his crew sunk a German U-boat off the coast of Louisiana during World War II.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Dec 22 at 2014 12:49 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:49:41 -0500

SGM Private RallyPoint Member Any award which is deserved and earned should be presented. This one certainly seems to fall in that category. Some credit for the reversal of course and the award should go to Rickie Kohler and National Geographic for the documentary on this sinking and providing evidence based on Robert Ballard's exploration which vindicated Capt. Claudius. BRAVO ZULU

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 4:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:22:41 -0500

I would either guess that the Navy didn't want to admit that the war was this close to home, though that's a stretch as the Uboat had just sunk a ship, or more likely, they would have to admit that the Captain knew what he was doing, and that procedures and schools weren't as important as the Navy would have liked them to be.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 4:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:21:24 -0500

Why this happened? Someone who didn't bother to do any fact checking & wasn't there second guessed what happened in actual conflict. Unfortunately, this sounds way too familiar.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Dec 22 at 2014 4:43 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:43:44 -0500

Unfortunately, many things are unclear during the fog of war.

I think it's great that his son was alive to learn about his fathers actions and to accept the award on behalf of his father.