Reuters-By Philip Pullela ROME (Reuters) - The Coast Guard
officer who ordered the captain of the capsized Italian cruise ship to
go back aboard unwittingly became an instant hero on Wednesday, credited
with saving the national honor on one of its darkest nights. Italy has become enthralled with the tale of two captains. One is Coast Guard Captain Gregorio De Falco, who furiously ordered the skipper of the Costa Concordia to return to his ship and oversee the rescue operations. The other is Captain Francesco Schettino
- whom newspapers have branded a coward for fleeing in the face of
adversity and who is now under house arrest, accused of multiple
manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. |
