The former skipper of the USS Greeneville, the nuclear submarine that collided with the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru two years ago, said yesterday he has been asked not to attend an anniversary memorial service in Hawaii. Ehime Maru service
to exclude sub skipper
Associated Press
Navy Cmdr. Scott Waddle said he had planned to come to Honolulu but has now canceled plans to attend the Feb. 9 ceremonies commemorating the collision that killed nine Japanese teenagers and men.
Waddle, in a telephone interview from his home in Raleigh, N.C., said he changed his plans after receiving a call from Earl Okawa, executive director of the Japan America Society of Hawaii.
Waddle, who visited the victims' hometown in Japan's Ehime prefecture last month to personally apologize for the tragedy, said Okawa relayed the request of the Japanese families that he not be present at the ceremony.
"I respect the request of the families," he said.
Okawa confirmed that he had passed along the feelings of family members to Waddle. He said several family members are expected to attend a simple ceremony likely to include a silent prayer and presentation of letters of appreciation from Ehime prefecture to Honolulu schools that have been helping maintain the memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park.
Waddle said he has asked officials at Saint Louis School to lay a wreath at the memorial on his behalf.
The former submarine commander has written a book, "The Right Thing," which is scheduled for release on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the last two families of the 35 people aboard the school fishing boat agreed to accept a Navy compensation offer for the death of their relatives. In November, 33 families signed a combined compensation package totaling $13 million.
