There was a story going around, probably apocryphal but certainly relevant to recent events, about an incident that ocurred in Norfolk before I was stationed there.

A Turkish destroyer tied up at D&S piers on a good will visit. Supposedly, one of the crew raped a local girl while he was ashore on liberty.

The next day, the police came to the pier to arrest the suspect, but the captain refused to turn him over, and refused the officers permission to come aboard and seek him out. The police went back for further instructions, not wanting to start an international incident.

Early the next day, at sunrise colors, the Turkish can was getting underway, ahead of schedule. She had been expected to stay in Norfolk for several more days but she was obviously leaving early. Hanging from her radar mast was a seaman, in full uniform. Dead. They had hung him during the night.

The story going around was that the Turks’ national honor would not allow them to turn over one of their own to the authorities, or even allow the authorities to come aboard. But that same honor could only be washed clean by the death of the criminal in their midst who had insulted their hosts. But he was their criminal, they had to do it.