Abandoned Shipmate

<p> Captain Ernie Blanchard left for work January 10, 1995, a successful officer. Respected by superiors and subordinates, his personal and professional values seemed perfectly aligned with the institution he served, the United States Coast Guard. By day's end his career was finished.</p><p> At a speaking engagement at the Coast Guard Academy, Blanchard's icebreaker--a series of time-tested corny jokes--was met with silence. Within hours, an investigation was underway into whet