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Hawaii couple Susan Nolan, a civilian aboard a submarine when it struck and sank a Japanese fishing trawler a week ago, said she and her husband, Mickey, will comment publicly about the voyage after the Navy and a federal team have completed their investigations.
won’t talk until
probes over
Susan and Mickey Nolan were
on the USS GreenevilleJapan defense chief: 'Outrageous'
By Harold Morse
and Treena Shapiro
Star-BulletinSpeaking by phone at her Hawaii Kai home, Nolan said, "Out of respect for the people who may have lost their lives, out of respect for the Navy and the ongoing investigation, we are reserving any comment until we speak with the Navy and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) investigators."
Two of the sixteen civilians on board the Greeneville spoke out for the first time yesterday on NBC's Today Show and in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.
John Hall, 52, a polo pony rancher and independent energy contractor, told the Houston Chronicle the crew of the USS Greeneville closely monitored Japanese citizens as they waited for help in lifeboats.
But choppy waters up to 8 feet kept the crew from opening the hatch and providing assistance, said Hall. "The families in Japan believe that not a lot was being done for these victims in the lifeboats and for the victims who were lost," Hall said.
"But they don't know the truth because no one is telling them. The Navy can't talk about an ongoing investigation," he said. "The crew worked hard, and nobody knows that. It hasn't come out, yet."
Hall and his wife, Leigh Ann, were among the civilians who were aboard the Greeneville last Friday.
Hall had been trying since last March to get a ride on the Greeneville. The Vietnam War veteran said he was ecstatic when he learned in October that his request had been accepted.
But the "opportunity of a lifetime" turned into an international incident.
Because of the lack of public information, Hall and a business associate, Todd Thoman of Houston, who also was on the sub, granted NBC's Today show an interview yesterday to explain their view of the accident. Thoman's wife, Dianda, was also aboard the Greeneville.
"I feel like if I talked about it, it might help those Japanese families who are grieving for their loss," Hall said.
Hall said he and Thoman have no idea why crew members did not see the fishing boat on the surface.
"Hopefully, the Navy and the National Transportation Safety Board will find out exactly what happened because the families in Japan deserve to know," Hall said.
Hall said one misconception about him and the others is that the trip may have been a reward for supporting former Texas Gov. George W. Bush in his successful presidential campaign.
Campaign records indicate that neither Hall nor Thoman have contributed to Bush, former President Clinton or any politicians in Texas. Houston politicos say Hall and Thoman are not on the political radar screen.
"I don't do politics," Hall said.
Meanwhile in Hawaii, the USS Missouri association said Hall and Thoman were with Fossil Bay Resources Ltd., an oil and gas company in Texas which was the title sponsor for a golf tournament to benefit the battleship's restoration and educational programs.
"Fossil Bay Resources paid a fee of $7,500 to the association as part of its sponsorship, the full amount of which was reimbursed to the company on Dec. 21, 2000, once the tournament was postponed.
"Hall and Thoman are not members of, or donors to, the association," the association said.
Mickey Nolan worked as a volunteer supporter of the USS Missouri Memorial Association and was its benefit golf tournament chairman, an association spokesman verified.
"He and his wife, Susan, made a contribution to the association in connection with the 2000 golf tournament," the association said. "The 2001 golf tournament was postponed late last year. No make-up date has been scheduled."
The association said it was unaware of the names of any other civilians who were aboard the USS Greeneville.
"In addition, the association has had no involvement in requesting or making arrangements for any civilians to have access to the USS Greeneville."
Although all of the civilians who have been publicly identified have been tied to a charity golf tournament benefiting the USS Missouri that has been postponed from last month, Mickey Nolan said not all of the 12 other civilians were involved.