The firing of the captain of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt has sparked an outcry of criticism, including from the great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt himself: Captain Crozier Is a Hero. And a day later, the Navy is now saying the captain, while relieved of his role, won’t be expelled. This is one of the more interesting, and less straightforward, stories from the pandemic. The captain should not have had to send the letter. The letter should not have been made public. The captain should not have been fired. The captain probably should not have departed his vessel to the cheers of his sailors. This shouldn’t being playing out like a reality show. The epic PR disaster that has ensued should not have happened. It’s a sad story all around, and one that must further depress those in the military. This is what happens when the chain of command chain begins with a weak link.