While just sitting down to breakfast I saw a report from Barbara Starr on CNN stating that her information and sources indicate that there were benign reasons for the tarp across the name of the vessel, as well as the positioning of the barge, related to repair work on the McCain. She further reported that there was no order (that she was aware of) trying to hide or otherwise disperse the ship's personnel.
Additionally, she quoted the Acting Sec. of Defense stating that he would not approve any such action, that he would not dishonor the memory of Sen. McCain, an American hero, (his words), nor the men and women of the vessel by doing so.
I hope this turns out to be the true story and that someone ginned this up. (And pays the price for so doing.)
They also showed a clip of POTUS in the Rose Garden denying knowledge of who did this, but saying that whomever may have given the order did so with good intentions knowing that he did not care for Sen. McCain. Then, after posthumously trashing McCain (once again) he went on to say that he would never have done this. (Classless, but at least not nearly as disgraceful as the allegations made in the article in the OP.)