Ahh... The Good Ole Days in the Navy...

uss curtis wilbur from wikipedia

I served in the Navy for 5 years and on two ships. This story is about the woman who was the final XO I had on my first ship before transferring to my second ship. When I tell people about the Navy they often seem to respond like I was overreacting, or remembering the story wrong. I feel vindicated by this article. Ironically, I didn't even notice the abuse by this woman because of what was going on with all the other people in my chain of command.

I served with Kirk Benson and Nicole Waybright on the USS CURTIS WILBUR

"I'm more upset that the Navy let this go on so long," says Kirk Benson, who retired from the Navy as a commander three years ago after a 20-year career. Many complaints up the chain fell on "deaf ears," he says. "When I think of Holly Graf, even 12 years later, I shake," he says of serving under her when she was second in command on the destroyer U.S.S. Curtis Wilbur in 1997-98. "She was so intimidating even to me, a 6-foot-4 guy."

Holly Graf: Navy Relieves Harsh Commander of USS Cowpens - TIME

(Musings) Permanent Link made 3:11 PM | TrackBacks (0)

Comments (2) Make a Comment

I can certainly understand how some people in this article have felt, watching someone like Ms. Graf get promoted up the chain when she was clearly such a bad influence. I have seen this in my own career, when strong-willed, conniving people who are stunningly effective at achieving short-term goals are promoted time and again. They figure out how they can use each person for their own gain, and as soon as that is not possible, turn on them and try to get them fired. It is truly disheartening when upper management cannot see through this, but things have a way of working themselves out. Unfortunately, a lot of damage was done to morale, and may good people quit over the situation... not something that is typically an option in the Navy.

Posted by: Charles at March 7, 2010 9:09 AM

I suppose if upper management got there the same way they may appreciate those tactics.

Posted by: Don at March 7, 2010 4:58 PM

Post a comment