Marcus Aurelius Arnheiter Marcus Aurelius Arnheiter ( born November 8 , 1925 , died August 18 , 2009 in Novato , CA ) , was a retired U . S . Navy officer , known for being relieved of command of the " USS Vance ( DE - 387 ) " after only 99 days . Early life and education . Arnheiter was born to Theodore and Dorothy B . Arnheiter . He has a twin brother , Theodore Jr . ( d . 2005 ) , and a sister , Dorothy . Raised in New York City , he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1952 and obtained his Masters degree from Georgetown . " USS Vance ( DER 387 ) " . Taking command of the " Vance " on 22 December just before Christmas 1965 , he found a ship that was , in his opinion , unready for war off the coast of North Vietnam . He instituted measures to get the ship cleaned up ( he stated that he had found it " crawling with cockroaches " ) , to get the crew trained , and to institute activities that he thought would get the crew motivated . Unfortunately , he also had more than his share of personality quirks that led members of the crew to keep a " Mad Marcus Log " . The complaints listed in the Mad Marcus Log came to the attention of higher headquarters staff , possibly through the chaplain corps . Three months after he assumed command , HQ ordered the Vance to Manila for refitting and Arnheiter was summarily relieved . In an attempt to clear his name , LCDR Arnheiter sought a court martial from the navy , but the navy never took any additional action against Arnheiter . Arnheiter swore out formal charges against the Navy Department and was not so much as reprimanded for charging that two - and three - star admirals his senior had themselves been guilty of gross violations of the UCMJ regarding his case . Arnheiter said that either way he should be the subject of a court martial - for his alleged actions on the Vance or for his related charges against selected superior officers . The Navy completely ignored his requests . Arnheiter went as far as to participate in formal Congressional hearings on the matter , and still the Navy ignored his loud and very public demand for redress in any official capacity . On repeated appeal , his case was repeatedly dismissed . One the duties of the " Vance " was to search small coastal traffic ( junks ) for contraband , specifically weapons to be used by the Viet Cong in South Vietnam . Since the " Vance " ' s motor whaleboat was lacking in speed , Arnheiter had a fast speedboat purchased for that purpose ; however , he used special services ( welfare & recreation ) money — a misappropriation of funds . Arnheiter also had the navigation personnel falsify the logs when he ordered the " Vance " closer to the coast than his orders allowed . Eventually word of these activities ( and other allegations ) reached higher command by way of a chaplain to whom sailors in the crew confided , and Arnheiter was relieved on 31 March 1966 when the " Vance " was refitting at Manila . According to the " Time " magazine article : " We all have a little of the Captain Queeg in us , " admitted one officer . " But Arnheiter had more than his share . " Suppressed book . Journalist Neil Sheehan wrote a book titled " The Arnheiter Affair " in 1971 , including a little - known " indicium " that Arnheiter , prior to his enrollment in the Naval Academy , had briefly been enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . " The Arnheiter Affair " was well received . Litigation , however , brought by Arnheiter for libel and slander caused the book to be removed from print . Marriage . Arnheiter married Janice Blair Arnheiter .