Hero Worship

Hero Worship

THIS ARTICLE IS A VERY ROUGH DRAFT

Seaman Todd Raff (Chris Johnson) wanted to smoke a cigarette in the galley aboard the USS John Cooper but accidentally started a fire when he lit the cigarette. Seaman Hawley (Blake Shields) rescues Raff and Seaman Trevino (Jay Michael Ferguson) from the fire. Hawley asks Trevino about a pack of cigarettes in Trevino's pocket. Trevino wasn't smoking in the galley, he gave Raff a cigarette thinking that Raff would go smoke at an appropriate location.

On orders from higher ups, Admiral Chegwidden sends Rabb and Mac to investigate the fire. That’s the official reason, the unofficial reason is that the brass have lost confidence in the ship’s captain (Tom Jourden).

It’s very clear that Raff was not supposed to be smoking in the galley. What is not so clear is how exactly the cigarette lighter’s little flame could have ignited greasy rags on a shelf a few feet away.

Rather than wait for Rabb and Mac’s recommendation, Admiral Albrecht convenes an Article 32 hearing. Chegwidden assigns Rabb to defend and Mac to prosecute.

Rabb inspects the galley with a master chief (Ernie Hudson, Jr.). They discover an electrical short. But that still doesn't explain the fire satisfactorily. Rabb discovers some oxygen tanks in the infirmary next to the galley. Seaman Hawley had failed to secure the oxygen tanks properly.

As a consequence of that failure, one of the oxygen tanks emptied completely into the galley. The air had become flammable, so a little cigarette lighter was enough to start a big fire. It’s a mistake that could potentially end Hawley’s naval career.

Raff doesn’t want Rabb to use that information at the Article 32 hearing, so Rabb promises instead he’ll file a separate memo with no names. The judge finds sufficient evidence for a court-martial. Presumably Raff will agree to some deal. As to the effect of this outcome on the ship’s captain, that’s left dangling.

Meanwhile, Chegwidden is asked to be a consultant on an event at Constitution Hall honoring all living Medal of Honor recipients. White House aide Carl Messing (Murray Rubinstein) shows Chegwidden the list of Navy and Marine Corps recipients.

One name is crossed off: Corporal Guernsey (Graham Jarvis). But not because he died recently, but because he allegedly shoplifted from a bait and tackle shop.

In World War II, Guernsey successfully repelled some 300 Japanese soldiers with a dozen grenades, and suffered serious injuries. Chegwidden refuses to believe that such a war hero would now be a shoplifter. But the local police chalk it up to "fixed income blues."

Chegwidden visits Guernsey at home. Chegwidden sees that Guernsey has become forgetful in his old age. It wasn't his intention to shoplift, but he honestly forgot to pay. The local police refuse to drop the charges. With that cloud hanging over the war hero, the White House refuses to include Guernsey in the event.

Chegwidden talks about Guernsey while on a picnic with Prof. Cavanaugh (Isabella Hofmann), who convinces the admiral to do everything he can to make sure Guernsey gets the recognition he deserves. Cavanaugh made tapas, but they’re awful.

Chegwidden buys Guernsey two Marine dress blue jackets, hopefully one of them fits. Guernsey still has his originally awarded medal. That night, Chegwidden drives Guernsey to a tavern where many men of his old platoon have gathered. Though we don't get to see whether Guernsey also takes his place among the Navy and Marine Corps war heroes at Constitution Hall.

Consulting with his wife, Roberts decides he should go for a carrier judge advocate billet.