In April 2020, COVID-19 swept through the USS Theodore Roosevelt, prompting Captain Brett Crozier to plead with Navy leadership to protect his crew, warning that sailors should not have to die. When his desperate letter reached the press, he was relieved of command.
Carrying only a backpack, Crozier made his final walk off the ship. But instead of leaving quietly, he was met by hundreds of sailors cheering and chanting his name in an emotional farewell. He risked his career to stand up for the thousands of sailors under his command, earning their loyalty and respect.