Talking About Politics: USS John S. McCain was ordered to tarp over her name so as to not offend Trump. What would you have done if you were the Captain receiving such an order?

USS John S. McCain was ordered to tarp over her name so as to not offend Trump. What would you have done if you were the Captain receiving such an order?

f I were a serving commissioned officer in the United States Navy and received a message from my superiors that read something like this:

FROM: COMSURFNAVFORPAC, CINCPACFLT

TO: COMMANDING OFFICER, USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-56)

RE: PLACING TARP OVER STERN TO HIDE SHIP’S NAME

BE ADVISED THAT POTUS WILL BE IN AREA YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM WHITE HOUSE REQUIRING YOU TO PLACE A TARP OVER YOUR SHIP’S STERN TO OBSCURE HER NAME. SENIOR OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT POTUS WILL BE ANGERED IF HE SEES NAME OF CAPT MCCAIN AND HIS FOREBEARS, SO THEY STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU MAKE SURE IT STAYS OUT OF SIGHT WHILE POTUS IS IN VICINITY OF YOKOSUKA/SEVENTH FLEET ANCHORAGE DURING HIS VISIT TO JAPAN.

Well, regardless of my political stance, I would have to comply with those orders. They were issued by those who are placed, by their status and rank, above me in the chain-of-command.

And even if I were leaning toward the Democratic Party and did not like Trump, like my real-life civilian self, I still would obey those orders.

I would not like them. I would even feel resentment toward the White House flunky who made the request that prompted them. But as a serving officer, I’d have to obey the orders, as there is nothing in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in them.

But inside, I’d be seething.