US navy chief faces video probe

The future of a US nuclear aircraft carrier’s captain is in the balance over a series of lewd videos he once made to entertain his crew.

Owen Honors was chief executive officer – or second in command – of the USS Enterprise when he broadcast the videos that used gay slurs, mimicked masturbation and staged suggestive shower scenes. He now commands the ship and is awaiting deployment from the port city of Norfolk, Virginia.

Asked if Honors’ command was at risk, Commander Chris Sims of US Fleet Forces Command said: “The investigation currently being conducted will provide the necessary information to make that decision in an informed manner.”

Ward Carroll, who flew with Honors in the navy, called him “one of the good guys” but said he did not expect him to command the Enterprise when it heads to sea this month.

“I was disappointed, both professionally and personally, that he wantonly and with great prejudice walked across the lines that exist,” said Mr Carroll, who is now editor of Military.com. “I don’t see there’s any way he stays in command.”

Senior navy officers knew about the videos that were played on the ship-wide television system during the weekly movie night that a sailor called a “big event”. The navy said its leadership had put a stop to “inappropriate content” on the Enterprise about four years ago.

The navy at first downplayed the videos as “humorous skits”, but soon called them “not acceptable” and said they were under investigation.

The military has undergone a cultural shift in recent decades and is now working to accommodate gays in its ranks with Congress’ repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell”. The Navy is opening its all-male submarine force to women this year.

Some who served on the Enterprise say the videos provided a much-needed morale boost during long deployments at sea.

“He was a caring professional and, yes, he has a sense of humour, but you need that on a boat,” said Misty Davis, who served on the Enterprise from 2006 to 2010. The offending video was shown in 2007, and was a compilation of previous videos he had shown, she and others said.