US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

80 Amphibians Carrie To Conqrzev
wanted to push Turnei overboard, and would have done so if he thought he
could get away with it. As a result, the Division Medical Officer and then
the Squadron Medical Officer talked with the Executive Officer who was
ordered to the Naval Hospital and to Waiting Orders with no duty assign-
ment for several months.5’
However, no matter how “unforgiving and severe” Turner was, surprisingly
enough no officer was suspended from duty for any of the hundred
and one causes or incidents which in those days resulted in such suspensions.
All the officers convinced their next promotional examining board of their
professional qualifications and were promoted. This included the Executive
Officer. But, the Chief Engineer remembered:
It was common ‘No. 4 Smokestack Gossip’ that RKT and the Division
Commander were not compatible. There was such a contrast in character and
t:imperarnent between the two. The Division Commander took great
pride in being the ‘King of the Passovers’ and was marking time until he
was retired and was not very tolerant toward an oficer of the ability of
RKT and his conscientious efforts. If there was any ‘extra duty’ to be
performed by any ship in the Division, the assignment usually fell to the
Mervzne,5’
The Division Commander undoubtedly was aware of the lack of calm
leadership exercised by Lieutenant Commander Turner and of the turmoil
within the oficer ranks of the Mervitze. Bad news, and that includes inadequate
leadership, works up as well as down in the Navy. Commander Kittinger
viewed Lieutenant Commander Turner’s performance of duty dimly,
but not so dimly as did some of the ship’s officers. He marked him in command
ability 3.2 or 3.5. “This officer seems to have average ability” was
his only remark on one fitness report, and on another he wrote only:
“This officer possesses about average ability except in Ordnance in which he
is superior.”
On three different fitness reports, Commander Kittinger marked his
brainy subordinate “average” in 19 different categories, including “intelligence,
“ “above average” in none, and “superior” in none.
Never having gotten around to questioning Admiral Turner before his
sudden death, in regard to this phase of his naval service, this scribe cannot
add anything to this unusual series of fitness reports except to say they in no
way painted a complete picture of the officer and man. He was many things,
but never “average.”
61Powers.
“ Browne.