The trial against Navy doctor Kevin J. Ronan keeps heating up. Former Navy man Andy Strasdas testified this week about how he discovered Ronan’s collection of tapes Ronan secretly made of Strasdas and eight other men who stayed at his house.
Though he originally claimed to have only found two tapes, which he turned over to military officials, Strasdas admitted that he uncovered four tapes, a detail the defense used to call Strasdas’ character into question. Strasdas said he hid two tapes because he feared the Navy would cover it up. What a conscientious objector…
Prosecutors glossed over Strasdas’ lie, insisting that it does nothing to alleviate the accusations against Ronan:
Prosecutors told jurors that even if they don’t find Strasdas believable, there is still ample evidence – including handwriting samples, proof that Ronan ordered surveillance equipment, and gay pornography found on his computer that proved his sexual attraction to “young, athletic males” – to convict him.
So, Ronan’s secret tape collection isn’t really the problem: it’s his sexuality. Yet again the United States military makes being gay a crime. Invading and occupying a peaceful nation? Total legal.
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
This is the first I have heard of this. However, my reserve Canadian Armed Forces chaplaincy (ret.) gave me access to the chaplain and medical and nursing services of the US military.
It is difficult to recruit clergy, physicians and nurses into the US military. The commissioned officer status requires commitment years in the future. It is an open secret that these categories are rarely dismissed on DADT. Colonel Kammemeyer, RN, PhD outed herself and initially they were reluctant to dismiss her. Besides, she was National Guard.
This is the new definition of the “down low” – since it referred to his camera angles.
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
It does not escape my notice that the 0-5 ranked physician is African-American. It does not say if the man is heterosexually married or not? It does not say if the man was single, in his late forties I would assume, and probably suspect or not?
It does not say what rank and what MOS that the young men were who stayed at his home? Do the tapes show anything that would incriminate the guests? Was there any homosexual activity among any of the individuals in that home? Is the recrimination the result of some extortion or some friendship gone awry?
There are not enough facts in this brief blurb to fully understand this action beyond the obvious infractions of the UCMJ.
Amy Hauck
He’s not African American. That picture is not of CDR Ronan
David
CDR Ronan is a white man, an excellent doctor, and a first rate officer. the accuser was a former midshipman (MIDN, similar to NROTC) at the naval academy. the sex act recorded was between a male and a female. CDR Dr. Ronan is not, to my knowledge, married, and during my time at the academy, i had never heard of him being suspect. The MIDN had been a guest (as many were, “sponsor” homes were safe, free places to relax “off-the-yard”) at CDR ronan’s and was seperated from the academy for poor grades and honor infractions, and tried to extort money from CDR Ronan using a tape that he made himself.
Marie
CDR Ronan was our sons pediatrician for many years and was dedicated and committed to our sons wellbeing. I neither know nor care what his sexual orientation is, my only concern was for his medical skills and abilities which were outstanding. Many men (military especially) have an irrational and exaggerated fear of homosexuals and therefore often overreact. According to what I have read, Dr. Ronan did not make any verbal or physical advances, touch, coerce or in any way convey any threats or unwelcome actions towards anyone. Why then the prison sentence? And all based on the words and actions of a proven liar, cheat and immoral screw-up with a grudge who was attempting an act of felony extortion against Dr. Ronan? How very stupid and senseless to ruin Dr. Ronan’s life over this.
Infant Stroller
Great level of information right here. There is so much information close to about this subject that occasionally you can’t see the wood for the trees but you have pitched this at just the best level so that the lay individual can understand – thank you!
Jennifer
I worked with Kevin Ronan during his residency working in the Pediatrics Clinic at the Naval Medical Center San Diego in the mid-1990s and he was an excellent doctor who went out of his way to make sure that corps staff were recognized for their hard work and was one of the coordinators for our “Fifth Friday” medical training and picnic. He made sure we were prepared for any emergency scenario and I’ve carried that knowledge with me ever since. He was a superb physician who was popular with parents for his ability to make them feel at ease about the care their child was receiving. He often worked in the Subspeciatly clinic with children with many medical issues and did so with ease. I don’t know him now, but I’m sure that he still possesses the outstanding medical skills as he did back then.