Waddle gets Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Thomas Fargo has closed a chapter of the Greeneville accident by reprimanding its captain, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, but will allow him to retire honorably, perhaps with his full Navy pension.
reprimand, but is
allowed to retire
The skipper's career ends
What happened when
with a letter of reprimand and
an honorable discharge
Waddle's statement
Japan reaction mixed By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-BulletinFargo said the 190-foot fishing vessel Ehime Maru, its crew, captain, its equipment and its systems did not cause the Feb. 9 collision.
"This collision was solely the fault of the USS Greeneville," said Fargo. "This tragic accident could and should have been avoided by simply following existing Navy standards and procedures in bringing a submarine to the surface."
In his findings, Fargo said there was no evidence of criminal intent or deliberate misconduct on Waddle's part and he rejected the most serious charge of negligent homicide -- a felony that could have resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.
But Waddle was found guilty of two violations of military law: dereliction in performance of duties and negligent hazarding of a vessel.
The U.S. four-star admiral acknowledged that "no process -- none whatsoever -- will fully compensate for the loss of life."
The Japanese government said the punishment means the United States has accepted responsibility for the collision.
"The Japanese government considers that the U.S. government has acknowledged all responsibilities regarding this incident," said Kazuhiko Koshikawa, spokesman for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. "The Japanese government does not at this point plan to make any specific demand to the United States."
But the legacy and lessons of the naval tragedy, which resulted in the death of nine Japanese men and boys, will continue because Fargo, a former submarine captain, said he wants his Pacific Submarine Force to develop a case study for use as a training aid.
"This study will be briefed to every commanding officer in command," Fargo said at a 30-minute news conference yesterday, "and each commander ordered to command within the next 60 days, and this training will remain as a standing requirement to serve as a constant reminder that our mission at sea can be beset with peril and is often unforgiving."
In accepting Fargo's decision during a one-hour admiral's mast at the Pacific Fleet's Makalapa headquarters, Waddle, 41, said: "As the commanding officer, I was and am responsible and accountable for my actions and the actions of my crew that led to the terrible accident at sea. ... This hearing and the punishment imposed reaffirm that bedrock principle of command accountability."
Waddle, who was on track for promotion to captain and possibly admiral, added: "While I regret that my Navy career has ended in this way, I know that I am one of the lucky ones because I survived the accident. My heart aches for the losses suffered by the families of those killed aboard the Ehime Maru and the grief that this accident unfairly has thrust upon them. I think about those lost at sea every day, and I grieve for the families. To those families, I again offer my most sincere apology and my hope that our government will promptly and fairly settle all claims made by the families against the United States as a result of this accident."
Waddle was referring to the compensation process the Navy has begun with the survivors and family members of the 35 people who were on the Ehime Maru when it was struck and sunk by the Greeneville on Feb. 9.
The Navy is empowered to settle claims up to $1 million before seeking congressional approval for higher amounts.
Also unresolved is the unprecedented raising of the 499-ton Ehime Maru, which now rests 2,003 feet underwater on the Pacific bottom, nine miles south of Diamond Head. The families want that done just to recover the bodies of the nine who may be entombed in the ship. That job could run as high as $40 million, possibly this summer.
None of the Greeneville's crew, including Waddle, nor other Navy officers involved in the events that led to collision between the Greeneville and the Japanese training vessel Ehime Maru will face courts-martial for possible criminal charges.
One of the Greeneville's sailors, who as yet has not received any form of punishment, was Petty Officer Patrick Seacrest. He is the fire control technician who a Navy court of inquiry said failed to maintain a paper wall chart and also failed to warn Waddle that Ehime Maru was 4,000 feet north of Greeneville on a collision course.
Fargo ordered Seacrest to appear before a captain's mast, which will be conducted by the current interim skipper of the Greeneville, Capt. Tony Cortese. The Greeneville is currently at sea, and the administrative hearing could be held before the Greeneville returns to Pearl Harbor in the next few days.
Also slated to appear before Cortese at a captain's mast will be Petty Officer Edward McGibboney, Greeneville's sonar supervisor. Fargo said McGibboney should be reprimanded for allowing a sonar trainee to be on duty without proper supervision.
Reprimands issued by Fargo yesterday include:
>> A punitive letter of reprimand for Waddle, who will be allowed to leave the service with an honorable discharge later this year with the possibility of retaining his full Navy pension as a Navy commander. Waddle was also ordered to forfeit half of his monthly pay of about $5,790 for two months, but sentence was suspended unless he commits some other violation within the next six months.Fargo said that as the senior Navy officer aboard the Greeneville that day, Brandhuber would have counseled Waddle about the propriety of taking the submarine to its classified depth and speed to show off for the 16 civilians visiting the Greeneville.Waddle will continue to receive his full pay until he retires in October at that point if the secretary of the Navy concurs, Waddle would get 50 percent of his basic pay, which equals to $2,895 per month, or $34,740 a year.
>> A rebuke for Lt. j.g. Michael Coen for failing to stand an attentive watch as officer of the watch on the day of the accident.
Fargo directed Rear Adm. Albert Konetzni, Pacific Fleet Submarine Forces commander, to carry out the recommendations of the court of inquiry that would mean:
>> A rebuke for Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer, Greeneville's executive officer, for lack of oversight and execution of the sub's watchbill of work schedule.
>> A rebuke for Petty Officer Douglas Coffman, the chief of the boat, for lack of administrative control and execution of the Greeneville's watch bill or work schedule.
>> A rebuke for Capt. Robert Brandhuber, Konetzni chief of staff, for "failing to professionally carry out his duties" on Feb. 9.
"In addition," Fargo said, "I believe he should have questioned the commanding officer when he believed that preparations for going to periscope were proceeding too quickly."
Fargo said Brandhuber also failed in his capacity as the escort officer for the 16 civilians.
Waddle and other Greeneville crewmen said the 16 civilians may have been a distraction to the crew in the crowded control room moments before the Greeneville collided with the Ehime Maru.
Although three civilians were at the controls when the Greeneville performed an emergency surfacing maneuver, Navy investigators, the court of inquiry and Fargo said none of them "directly contributed to the collision."
Waddle has said he plans to travel to Japan to meet with the families of the victims. He previously apologized and accepted responsibility for the collision.
Fargo, who like Waddle was raised in Japan, said he also would go to Japan to explain his actions if that is what the families want.
Key events on Feb 9, when the USS Greeneville collided with the Ehime Maru: What happened
7:59 a.m.: Greeneville leaves Pearl Harbor submarine base. Its sole mission: to entertain 16 civilians on a day cruise.12:15 p.m.: Japanese fishing training vessel Ehime Maru leaves Honolulu Harbor with a crew of 20, two teachers and 13 high school students.
12:32 p.m.: Greeneville obtains first sonar contact of vessel now believed to be the Ehime Maru and designates it Sierra 13.
12:50 p.m.: Japanese vessel picks up speed and continues on course south of Diamond Head.
1:16 p.m.: Running 43 minutes behind schedule, Greeneville begins a maneuver called "angles and dangles," in which it makes vertical turns.
1:25 p.m.: Greeneville performs horizontal high-speed turns.
1:31 p.m.: Fire control technician Patrick Seacrest obtains a range for Sierra 13 of 14,000 yards from the Greeneville.
1:32 p.m.-1:38 p.m.: Greeneville performs a maneuver that is supposed to provide more accurate sonar readings in preparation for going to periscope depth.
1:37:33 p.m.: Seacrest detects Sierra 13 at a range of 16,000 yards.
1:37:48 p.m.: Sierra 13's range drops to 4,000 yards. Seacrest does not report this to officers.
1:38:30 p.m.: Greeneville rises to periscope depth. Cmdr. Scott Waddle and Lt. j.g. Michael Coen, officer of the deck, report no close contacts.
1:40 p.m.: Greeneville begins descent.
1:42 p.m.: Greeneville reaches maximum depth of about 400 feet.
1:42:25 p.m.: Greeneville begins rapid ascent (emergency main ballast blow).
1:43:15 p.m.: Greeneville strikes Ehime Maru. Nine people -- four students, two teachers and three crewmen -- are never found. The Ehime Maru rests on the Pacific bottom, 2,003 feet down, nine miles south of Diamond Head.
Today, I was disciplined by Adm. (Thomas) Fargo and issued a Punitive Letter of Reprimand and a suspended forfeiture of pay for my performance of duties as the commanding officer, USS Greeneville, on 9 February 2001. Cmdr. Waddle’s
statementI understand and accept the punishment that Adm. Fargo imposed. He treated me fairly and with dignity and respect, and I thank him for that. I also wish to thank Rear Adm. (Al) Konetzni for his support at the hearing and throughout this difficult time.
This hearing concluded a very difficult time for my family and me, and it has effectively ended my Navy career. It was not the end that I had envisioned for my career when I took command of the Greeneville.
However, when I took command, I accepted the responsibility and accountability that accompany the authority invested in me as a commanding officer of a Navy ship. As the commanding officer, I was and am responsible and accountable for my actions and the actions of my crew that led to the terrible accident at sea on 9 February 2001. This hearing and the punishment imposed reaffirm that bedrock principle of command accountability.
While I regret that my Navy career has ended in this way, I know that I am one of the lucky ones because I survived the accident.
My heart aches for the losses suffered by the families of those killed aboard the M/V Ehime Maru and the grief that this accident unfairly has thrust upon them. I think about those lost at sea every day, and I grieve for the families.
To those families, I again offer my most sincere apology and my hope that our government will promptly and fairly settle all claims made by the families against the United States as a result of this accident.
TOKYO >> The Japanese government said today that it will not demand tougher punishment for the captain of a U.S. submarine that sank a high school fisheries training vessel, killing nine of those aboard, but relatives of the victims complained that the verdict was too lenient. Japanese
government
satisfiedBut city officials, kin feel the
Star-Bulletin news services
punishment is not harsh enough"The Japanese government considers that the U.S. government has acknowledged all responsibilities regarding this incident," said Kazuhiko Koshikawa, spokesman for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
But for the families, yesterday's verdict was a bitter pill.
"It's unforgivable that the matter should be settled with this sort of punishment after so many questions were left unanswered by the court of inquiry." said Ryosuke Terata, whose 17-year-old son Yusuke was lost in the accident. "If (he were) in Japan, he would be fired and indicted on charges such as professional negligence resulting in death."
Teruo Terata, 59, uncle of Yusuke, was also angry. "They say reprimand, but the reality is he will virtually make an honorable retirement. Yusuke was victimized. I cannot find words to express my anger," he said.
Some said the decision to reprimand Waddle only confirmed their suspicion that the U.S. Navy would protect its own.
"Since the captain was being judged by his peers, I wasn't expecting much to come out of the trial," said Kazuhiko Segawa, son of 60-year-old Hirotaka Segawa, chief of communications aboard the fishing vessel the Ehime Maru.
The USS Greeneville sub surfaced into the Ehima Maru off Hawaii on Feb. 9, sinking the training vessel from a high school in the city of Uwajima, Japan. Still missing and presumed dead are nine people who were on board.
There were strong feelings in Japan that Cmdr. Scott Waddle should have faced a court-martial for failing to detect the Ehime Maru before his submarine rocketed to the surface in a demonstration of an emergency procedure for the 16 civilians aboard.
Local officials echoed the families' disappointment. "Unfortunately, I cannot help but feel the punishment may be too light," Mayor Hirohisa Ishibashi said. "Families and students are demanding that Waddle come to Uwajima and apologize. But I am too agitated at this point to say, 'Please come.' "
Uwajima official Motoyasu Ota said, "It is regrettable that our feeling that the sub's captain should be tried in a military court did not materialize."
Japan will continue asking that "sincere steps" be taken in negotiating remaining issues, such as compensation for the families of the victims and the salvage of the Ehime Maru, Koshikawa said.
Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, also criticized the Navy's decision. "We are very sorry that the outcome of this decision might lead to the profound anger and hatred of the Japanese people towards the U.S. Navy and that it may undermine our partnership in the security of Asia and the Pacific," the DPJ statement said.
"As criticized even by the U.S. media, the decision of the commander is based solely on the defensive attitude of the U.S. Navy. It disregards a series of serious negligence, irregularities and a capital violation of the military code of conduct and safety measures by Cdmr. Waddle, in order to protect the organization and its disputable practices such as excessive services to VIP civilians."
