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Navy Self-Study May Hold Key to Real Reason Behind Navy Chaplain's Dismissal

Navy Self-Study May Hold Key to Real Reason Behind Navy Chaplain's Dismissal

By Ladson F. Mills III
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
March 21, 2015

Captain Jon Fahs, Commanding Officer of the Navy Nuclear Power Command in Goose Creek, South Carolina now finds himself at ground zero with his decision to relieve Chaplain Wes Modder of duties over accusations of intolerance. It is not a comfortable place for an ambitious career officer to find himself. What may have only recently seemed as a career stepping stone could now be a mill stone. The Navy has a history of ignoring due process and a lust to pursue political correctness as witnessed in the "Tailhook" debacle of 1991.

Chaplain Modder a nineteen year veteran with a heretofore exemplary record was relieved of duty for being "unable to function in the environment of the Navy Nuclear Power Command." It has since been revealed that he was intentionally targeted by an openly gay partnered Naval Officer who came to him under the pretense of seeking counseling. Chaplain Modder became increasingly aware that during these sessions that he was continually being pressed for his opinions concerning homosexuality. When they were eventually shared he found himself charged with discrimination. Other charges conveniently added are that he "berated" a female sailor for being pregnant out of wedlock and criticized another for immodesty of dress.

Chaplain Modder has served with distinction throughout his career having been assigned previously to the elite Navy Seals. He has consistently received the Navy's highest ratings being described as the "best of the best." He was recently recommended for accelerated promotion by the same man who has now relieved him of his duties.

VOL contacted Captain Fahs requesting an interview which he politely refused citing the improperness of commenting publicly on a personnel matter. In spite of his statement the information was released which appears to conflict with the improperness of public commenting and damages Chaplain Modder with accusations which are inflammatory and unsupported. It is hard to quantify what constitutes a "berating" and for a Christian clergyman to suggest that dress and behavior are important is hardly radical.

We are asked to accept that an officer with an exemplary record and recent recipient of the highest evaluations has suddenly and radically changed within the last several months. Releasing negative and subjective accusations is self-serving and duplicitous. For anyone with experience in the military it does not pass the smell test.

The Navy's "2014 Retention Study" found that ninety percent of those interviewed hold negative views of senior navy leadership. They believe a climate of political correctness has led the Navy to spend too much time trying to "eradicate behavior that is by its very nature, eradicable." There is a "widespread mistrust" in an organization once recognized for leadership, but now relies on management where junior officers can expect to receive little support and are regularly hung out to dry by what they describe as "risk adverse" seniors.

Kathy Platoni in a recent "Wall Street Journal" article cites the case of Army Major and Fort Hood assassin Nidel Hasan as indicative how deep the military is permeated by the obsession for political correctness. Platoni writes that although Hasan killed fourteen people, including an unborn child, and wounded thirty others none of his seniors have been held accountable while the survivors have often been denied pay and appropriate benefits.

Deeper examination reveals that Platoni has exposed only the tip of the iceberg. During Hasan's internship in psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Hospital both colleagues and his seniors regularly described him as "schizoid" and "paranoid." Training videos reveal him regularly presenting the less savory aspects of Islam as normative. Between 2008-2009 he exchanged at least twenty e-mails with the radical Islamic Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki which his senior officers dismissed as being "work related" in spite of being signed "SoA" (Soldier of Allah)

When this information was uncovered the Army Chief of Staff General George Casey, Jr. responded, to the public outcry by stating "our diversity, not only in the Army, but our country is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse." Casey's noted unwillingness to acknowledge the magnitude of the massacre is indicative of a leadership so obsessed with being politically correct that it will do so in the face of unspeakable tragedy and at the expense of reality.

It has also been observed that during this time of Hasan's increasing bizarre behavior Department of Defense Schools were sending notices to parents reminding them that students were forbidden to say "Merry Christmas" as it might possibly disrespect others. While anything Christian is targeted Hassan's murderous and terrorist rampage is described as "work place violence."

One retired senior officer confided that there is an additional concern over Chaplain Modder's dismissal and which is more than a Christian being targeted and punished for speaking openly and candidly of his personal beliefs. Of deeper concern is the character of the accusers who intentionally targeted him and are supported in doing so by a feckless chain of command.

If is frightening to realize that command of a Nuclear Submarine carrying enough weaponry to destroy a significant part the world could someday be entrusted to one so lacking in integrity and ego strength as to fall apart when challenged by alternative views which were intentionally sought.

The fitness of Chaplain Modder is not the issue. The real issue is the fitness of those in command who foster such insidiousness by allowing it to continue.

Ladson F. Mills III is a retired priest with over thirty years pastoral experience. He served as a Marine Corps line officer and upon his ordination transferred to the Navy Chaplain Corps. He is retired from the Navy Reserves with the rank of Captain. He is a regular contributor to "Virtueonline."

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