That criminal of a captain was sitting under a documented air route and threatened other planes. He knew perfectly well that plenty of airliners flew there. Like the great grandparent said - imaging if the Iranians did this to the US. There would be a large regional war at a minimum.

Apparently he got a medal upon exiting the service instead of the court martial he really deserved.

Everyone (yes, literally everyone) gets a medal at the end of their service if they are not removed for disciplinary reasons (due process is lovely). The CO was by all measures a giant douchebag even without having the shootdown of Iran Air 655 on his hands but you're essentially not going to get a court-martial conviction on a CO that shoots down a plane when his watchteam was also convinced of the threat.

What you want to look at with medals is the type of medal they get, as that is where you can tell how much esteem they possess (or don't).

That comment instills so little confidence in the US navy, kids with guns and all that.