Richard C. Macke
Encyclopedia
Richard Chester Macke (born January 4, 1938) was a Naval Aviator
, an Admiral
in the United States Navy
and Commander of United States Pacific Command
(USPACOM) from July 19, 1994 until January 31, 1996. He was fired from that post in November 1995, hours after making comments considered insensitive to reporters about the case of U.S. sailors
and a Marine
accused of kidnapping, beating and raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl
. He said "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]".http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/macke_speaks/. Macke retired from the Navy April 1, 1996 as a two-star Rear Admiral
, two stars lower than the rank he previously held. Later that year, he was censured by the Navy for matters related to an affair he had before his retirement with an unidentified female Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.
Macke was also responsible for arranging for the presence of civilians on board the USS Greeneville
in during its 2001 collision with the Ehime Maru
, a Japanese boat carrying high school students. As a result of a request by Macke, a civilian was at the helm of the submarine when the accident occurred. Nine Japanese civilians aboard the Ehime Maru were killed in the incident.
Macke refused to testify at the court of inquiry of Commander Scott Waddle, the commanding officer of the USS Greeneville at the time of the accident.
Macke commanded the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
from July 6, 1984 through October 18, 1986.
After his Navy career, Adm. Macke has served as a vice president of Wheat International Communications Corporation http://www.teleseawireless.net/mediakit/macke.shtml.
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
, an Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Commander of United States Pacific Command
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
(USPACOM) from July 19, 1994 until January 31, 1996. He was fired from that post in November 1995, hours after making comments considered insensitive to reporters about the case of U.S. sailors
Sailors
Sailors is the plural form of Sailor, or mariner.Sailors may also refer to:*Sailors , a 1964 Swedish film*Ken Sailors , American basketball playerSports teams*Erie Sailors, baseball teams in Pennsylvania, USA...
and a Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
accused of kidnapping, beating and raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl
1995 Okinawan rape incident
The 1995 Okinawa rape incident refers to a rape that took place on September 4, 1995, when three U.S. servicemen, U.S. Navy Seaman Marcus Gill and U.S. Marines Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet, all from Camp Hansen on Okinawa, rented a van and kidnapped a 12-year-old Japanese girl. They beat her,...
. He said "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]".http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/macke_speaks/. Macke retired from the Navy April 1, 1996 as a two-star Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
, two stars lower than the rank he previously held. Later that year, he was censured by the Navy for matters related to an affair he had before his retirement with an unidentified female Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.
Macke was also responsible for arranging for the presence of civilians on board the USS Greeneville
USS Greeneville (SSN-772)
USS Greeneville , a , is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Greeneville, Tennessee. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on 14 December 1988, and her keel was laid down on 28 February 1992...
in during its 2001 collision with the Ehime Maru
Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision
The Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision was a ship collision between the United States Navy submarine USS Greeneville and the Japanese fishery high school training ship Ehime Maru on 9 February 2001, about off the south coast of Oahu, Hawaii, United States...
, a Japanese boat carrying high school students. As a result of a request by Macke, a civilian was at the helm of the submarine when the accident occurred. Nine Japanese civilians aboard the Ehime Maru were killed in the incident.
Macke refused to testify at the court of inquiry of Commander Scott Waddle, the commanding officer of the USS Greeneville at the time of the accident.
Macke commanded the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is an aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten Nimitz-class supercarriers currently in service, and is the first ship named after the thirty-fourth President of the United States, Dwight D....
from July 6, 1984 through October 18, 1986.
After his Navy career, Adm. Macke has served as a vice president of Wheat International Communications Corporation http://www.teleseawireless.net/mediakit/macke.shtml.
External links
- TeleSea wireless: personal profile
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr1995/m042595_m102-95.html
- The Virginian-Pilot: Admiral who was forced to quit is hired by international firm (March 16, 1996)