Commanding Officer sacked
It seems that men in high places still haven't learned to keep their dorks zipped up. Capt. Scott Bawden, Commodore of Submarine Squadron 17 in Bangor, WA, was relieved of commnad after having "lost the confidence" of his boss. If you follow submarine news you will remember that Bawden was the Commodore who axed some of the crew of the USS Columbia after a hazing incident. /hat tip The Stupid Shall be Punished
What comes around goes around? It has been quoted by a Chief who knew Bawden that morale will probably get better now that Bawden has been shitcanned. Sounds like a few Commodores I know. But there is more to this story than a guy who perhaps can't do his job anymore. Bawden was busted sleeping with someone elses wife, a Chief's wife, no less, IN HIS OWN command.
So long Admiral promotion and we have lovely parting gifts.
What comes around goes around? It has been quoted by a Chief who knew Bawden that morale will probably get better now that Bawden has been shitcanned. Sounds like a few Commodores I know. But there is more to this story than a guy who perhaps can't do his job anymore. Bawden was busted sleeping with someone elses wife, a Chief's wife, no less, IN HIS OWN command.
Will the top brass save a onetime fair-haired boy's career, or will he end up "walking the plank?"What a jackass. It's bad enough that the Officers screw the enlisted, but do they have to screw the enlisted's wives too?
So long Admiral promotion and we have lovely parting gifts.
that the navy might even try to rehabilitate Bawden's carreer is too scary to think about.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like this stuff happens all the time while guys are at sea but I just don't see how it can happen on shore duty.
ReplyDeleteI am really surprised that the Commodore's infidelity hasn't made more of an appearance in the small military media.
People are imperfect; khakis cheat on their wives, indulge too much in alcohol, lie and steal just as much as blueshirts do, but because they are in positions of greater responsibility and accountability, chiefs and officers get noticed more when they misbehave -- the whole "Officer and a gentleman" thing. These guys are supposed to be role models for their subordinates, but since the Navy is often a place where boys go so they don't have to grow up, their bad habits don't disappear when the color of their uniform changes or when their job title changes to something like "Commanding Officer" or "Commodore." It's a matter of hierarchy -- everybody gets involved if the president cheats on his wife, a portion of a state gets involved if a senator or congressman cheats on his wife, but when you get to a city councilman or even a mayor who screws around, very few people care, even though you know some of them do it.
ReplyDeleteI've known some very decent folks -- one of the CO's of my old boat, the USS Honolulu was perhaps one of the best the old tub ever had, and several chiefs I've known were absolute geniuses at their chosen rates, and definitely cared more about the welfare of their guys than their own careers or their image with the command staff. That being said, I've also known both officers and chiefs I was ashamed to admit I even knew.
Well said, Yuk.
ReplyDeleteMost problems aren't limited to a specific group and whether it be C.O.'s, CEO's, blue shirts or blue collar workers that type of shameful behavior should be nipped in the bud as soon as possible.
Just goes to show that one "Oh Shit" takes away a metric ton of "At a Boys". This guy made a mistake that I hope will cost him his career, but the women in this is also to blame if it is correct. It takes two to tango.
ReplyDeleteAh, Shower Tech brings up the winning point. I have heard just as many stories about coniving wives who cheat on their underway husbands only to find themselves busted because of an unscheduled return to port. Maxed out credit cards, boots in the foyer that are two sizes bigger, and unexplained dents in the car- all tell-tale signs of a wife gone bad.
ReplyDeleteYes, the women are just as much to blame, if not more so, than the men who join them in the game of clandestine booty calls. But then again, I'm a pig.
Actually it was a bit more than that. The wife told Bawden that her husband abused her and it went downhill from there. I saw her with her husband at the mall a few days after this, holding hands and looking like nothing was wrong. Oddly enough he had just converted from a Submarine rate to a Surface rate and was transfering pretty quickly. Does make one go "Hmmmmm"
ReplyDeleteAh, the 'abusive husband' card. That may be a convenient excuse or illogical reason to jack around on her husband, however that still doesn't pan out for the Commander.
ReplyDelete"Oh, your husband is abusive? Well, I guess it would be ok to jeopardize my career by letting you do the deep knee bends on me for while."
Must be something in the air at Bangor! Not all get caught, though. Some carry on for years and years with many "partners" and never get caught, at least not by the military!
ReplyDeleteYou should all be ashamed of yourselves. The internet brings out the worst in people, you're all an example. Bawden is an amazing man who didn't do anything wrong, don't care what rumours you care to purvey. The blogger would do well to delete this entire string, and the original post.
ReplyDeleteCan we blame the Internet for bringing out the worst in a Commanding Officer who committed adultry?
ReplyDeleteYour apologetic attitude is as disturbing as your asinine comment. But perhaps I'm being to rough on you as I'm sure I could belt out a list of amazing men who have been unjustly relieved of their positions due to a loss of confidence.
Nope, can't think of any unless you want to include the dirtbags in X-Div who all profess getting a raw deal because they are being processed out of the Navy for drug use.
Scott Bawden is not an amazing man. He cheated on his wife for over 10 years with much younger women he met online. His current girlfriend is someone he started sleeping with 6 years before his divorce when she was half his age. After his divorce he would invite navy wives over to his house for drinks, dinner, and "orgasms," as he liked to say. When he was finally caught he made up some story about being the victim of a dishonest woman. He has ruined careers of several innocent people with his lies. He has knowingly and intentionally spread several STD's, one of which is responsible for cervical cancer. Recently I heard a story of a young woman who attempted to take her life because she was emotionally and mentally abused by Scott Bawden. Amazing men do not have to worry about being blasted on the internet. Scott Bawden is not one of those men, and he deserves to have everyone know just what type of arrogant, manipulative psycho he really is.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to know a whole lot. How do you fit into the story?
DeleteBangor is a small community. My husband's a Chief.
DeleteSo all of your information is secondhand. It seems to me that this thread died years ago. You are picking at old wounds and perpetuating gossip of which you have no first hand knowledge. These rumors have the potential to not only hurt your intended victim but his family as well. You should consider a less malicious hobby.
DeleteYou seem to know a whole lot. How do you fit into the picture?
ReplyDeleteNot many people would have first hand knowledge of those events, but it doesn't mean they didn't happen. Somebody knows; somebody knows everything. While I am flattered that you assume my audience extends to such lengths, I don't think Mr. Bawden could care less what anyone says about him or his affair.
ReplyDeleteBawden's name will live in infamy to the people he hurt. He could either address these allegations and be done with it or not. After all this time it seems he doesn't care about his reputation or what people say. Shit heads like him rarely do anyway.
Stumbled upon this site when Scott's name came up on my Linked-In...
ReplyDeleteSorry to say it's true...when I met him, he told me he was single (a lie, he was still married), and that he had voluntarily stepped down from the Navy because his stepmother and brother both had cancer and he "wanted to take time to care for them." Yikes! Scary to think someone would use his family's illnesses to get sympathy and perpetuate a lie. I found out later he had been relieved of command.
Yes, I also fell for his lies...he's very good at it. Shocking when I think back to who he initially portrayed himself to be, and the difference when his true self emerged. Really sad as I think he has some good qualities, but whether he is truly an evil person (hope not), or he is just badly damaged from childhood, he's someone it's best to avoid.
Hopefully, he has changed and can be a good husband and stepfather to the young child. Best thing to do is say a prayer for him...
I was on Providence when he was CO. He was the biggest prick I ever served with in my 20 years.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Scott for a couple years, He had his quirks but seemed squared away and genuinely nice. "My husband's a Chief" well there goes your credibility. Yep Bangor is a small community where bullshit spreads like wildfire.
ReplyDelete