Navy IDs Roosevelt sailor who died from coronavirus

The Navy on Thursday identified the USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor who died from the coronavirus as a 41-year-old aviation ordnanceman.

Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., of Fort Smith, Ark., died Monday at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam.

Thacker’s spouse, who is also an active-duty member stationed in San Diego, was flown to Guam by the Navy and by his side when he died, the Navy said.

Thacker had been found unresponsive in his room during a daily medical check and taken to intensive care four days before he died.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,” said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, the Roosevelt’s commanding officer, said in a statement. “Our number one priority continues to be the health and well-being of all members of the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group and we remain steadfast in our resolve against the spread of this virus.”

The coronavirus outbreak aboard the Roosevelt has become a political firestorm after the ship’s former commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, wrote a letter that leaked in the media warning about potentially dire consequences if most of the crew wasn’t evacuated from the ship.

Crozier was fired by then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who subsequently resigned after he flew to Guam to give a speech on the Roosevelt berating Crozier as “stupid” or “naive.”

As of Thursday, 655 sailors from the Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus. Six sailors are in the hospital, with one of them in intensive care.

The Navy has moved 4,059 sailors from the 4,800-person crew to shore.