USN Officer Fakes Death to Get Out of Affair

[The Bread Guy]

Navy Cmdr. Michael P. Ward II violated the military's criminal code by having an eight-month affair with a 23-year-old Virginia woman and faking his death as a means of ending it, the Navy said today.

Ward, who led the Groton-based USS Pittsburgh for one week, violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice articles on dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming of an officer and adultery, Rear Admiral Richard P. Breckenridge, commander of Submarine Group Two, determined at an admiral's mast.

Ward received a punitive letter of reprimand. He is assigned to administrative duties at the submarine group.

Ward's deception and dishonesty in developing, maintaining and attempting to end the relationship were "egregious" and inconsistent with the Navy's expectations of an officer, especially one entrusted with command of a naval warship and its crew, Capt. Vernon Parks, commander of Submarine Development Squadron 12 in Groton, wrote in a memo concurring with the findings of the command's investigation into Ward's personal misconduct.

A copy of the investigation was obtained by The Day today following a Freedom of Information Act request. Both Ward and the woman gave similar accounts of their relationship to investigators, the report said.

The woman spoke with The Day when Ward was relieved of command of the Pittsburgh and provided copies of text messages and emails from Ward, as well as photos. She said "wow" several times as a reporter told her the contents of the report Tuesday. She had not yet seen it.

"What a mess. I'm glad the report doesn't have my name in it and that he, at least, owned up to everything, but wow," said the Chesapeake, Va., woman, who does not want to be identified because she does not want to jeopardize her career in the banking industry ....

Stars & Stripes, 19 Sept 12

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

I would say that's a new one for the books, but I'm sure others have done it.

Many submarine jokes are coming to mind but are probably inappropriate.

 

[dapaterson]

I recall an officer cadet who believed his "romantic" intentions would be aided by a certain claims (all entirely inconsistent with his age, I might add).  When the response was significantly greater than anticipated, he used a similar ruse.

I'm sure it would have been even more difficult for him, had he used his own name...

 

[bridges]

The whole news item would belong here, if not for the fact that names were used:  http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/76543.0.html

 

[cupper]

If his wife found out, I don't think he'd need to fake his death.  ;D

And his scorned lady now gets a free pass. Imagine if she took out a hit on him, who is going to believe he died this time? :facepalm:

 

[Jarnhamar]

Come on, who hasn't faked getting admitted to rehab in order to shake off a stage 5 clinger?

 

[Pieman]

violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice articles on dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming of an officer and adultery

Can Canadian Officers be charged with adultery?

 

[ModlrMike]

Can Canadian Officers be charged with adultery?

No. There are specific military offences under the NDA, and criminal offences under the CCofC. Adultery falls into neither of those definitions. That being said, the circumstances of one's adultery could lead to breaches of the NDA, and then you're cooked.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Don't officers have some kind of thing about behavior unbecomming an officer or unethical behavior?  I remember someone here referencing it for me and some friends and I pushing it up to RMC about one of their cadets having an affair with a platoon mates fiance while he was deployed.

 

[Pieman]

Don't officers have some kind of thing about behavior unbecomming an officer or unethical behavior?

This is where I would have placed Adultery.

  I remember someone here referencing it for me and some friends and I pushing it up to RMC about one of their cadets having an affair with a platoon mates fiance while he was deployed.

I would think that if they were not legally married, then it would be rather hard to legally hold someone accountable. Says a lot about the person's character though.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Don't officers have some kind of thing about behavior unbecomming an officer or unethical behavior?  I remember someone here referencing it for me and some friends and I pushing it up to RMC about one of their cadets having an affair with a platoon mates fiance while he was deployed.

That kind of stuff fell by the wayside soon after they stopped issuing the Officers' Messes with a Webley.... ;D

 

[Michael OLeary]

That kind of stuff fell by the wayside soon after they stopped issuing the Officers' Messes with a Webley.... ;D

Probably about the same time we stopped marching troops to cells for dumb insolence.

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

Come on, who hasn't faked getting admitted to rehab in order to shake off a stage 5 clinger?

Anyone that says they haven't is either very young, or lying.