Closed Navy
promotion ceremony
draws fire

McVeigh, whom the Navy
tried to fire, takes a higher rank
behind closed doors

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The Navy was criticized today for the way it handled the promotion ceremony of a Pearl Harbor sailor it has been trying to fire on charges that he is gay.

At issue is why the Navy chose to bar the news media from yesterday's "frocking ceremony" for Master Chief Timothy R. McVeigh at the Naval Submarine Training Center in Pearl Harbor.

McVeigh last week was selected to be advanced to master chief petty officer, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy.

Cmdr. Kevin Wensing, Pacific Fleet spokesman, has denied that the notoriety of the case contributed to that decision.

However, Lt. Derek Cole, McVeigh's attorney, said he did nothing wrong in informing the media of the ceremony and resents accusations by two Navy public affairs representatives that he and McVeigh violated any military procedure.

Cole wants an apology from Wensing and Cmdr. Betsy Bird, Pearl Harbor submarine forces spokeswoman, or he plans to file a formal grievance.

Bird is on leave today.

Wensing said he hasn't been contacted by Cole, but added, "It's an internal matter. We'll handle it within the Navy chain of command."

"We're upset," Cole said. "Normally this type of ceremony is held in the open in front of all the troops in full view of everybody, and not behind the closed doors of a commander's office.

"They have tried to abuse this man . . . they won't give him anything. They stripped this honor from him by playing this game. They didn't want this public ceremony because they didn't want people to realize why the Navy is kicking him out.

"We won our case in court. They are mad that Tim made E-9 because that's adding insult to injury."

McVeigh, 36, who is not related to the convicted Oklahoma City bomber, has never disclosed his sexual orientation.

McVeigh's promotion came after the Navy in January lost a federal court battle aimed at forcing his discharge.

A federal judge ruled that the Navy violated federal law by obtaining confidential information about McVeigh without a warrant or court order.

Military personnel can be dismissed for disclosing their homosexuality, but the armed forces cannot raise the issue on their own without sufficient cause.