Sub skipper seeks honorable discharge

By JAYMES SONG

AP Writer

HONOLULU (AP) – The skipper of the USS Greeneville has been assured his disciplinary hearing Monday will be conducted “with an open mind” and expects to retire with full pension and an honorable discharge, his attorney said.

Cmdr. Scott Waddle plans to travel to Japan after he retires to meet with families of the nine Japanese students and adults killed when the Greeneville collided with the school’s fishing boat on Feb. 9, said civilian attorney Charles Gittins.

Waddle’s commanding officer, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Thomas Fargo, will punish Waddle Monday at a hearing known as an “admiral’s mast,” rather than institute a court-martial proceeding. It will mean the end of Waddle’s Navy career, although he will not face the prospect of prison.

“He will retire as commander, with full pension and with an honorable characterization of discharge, consistent with the character of his 20 years service,” Gittins told The Associated Press.

Waddle has apologized and accepted full blame for the collision that sank the Ehime Maru. The collision occurred as the giant submarine was conducting a rapid resurfacing exercise in waters off Hawaii.

Navy officials have acknowledged that the surfacing demonstration was done only for the benefit of 16 civilians aboard, three of whom were seated at the sub’s controls at the time of the collision.

Waddle could face other disciplinary action, including letters of reprimand and fines, but the decision not to have him to face a court martial has angered many Japanese. A Japanese official said Friday that the families of those killed will not be satisfied unless Waddle faces a court martial.

On Saturday, Waddle received a copy of the report of a three-member military panel that reviewed the case. Gittins declined to describe the panel’s conclusions, but Pentagon officials have said Fargo is following the officers’ recommendation in not calling for courts martial of top Greeneville officers.

“No other document was provided to Scott and we have been assured that Adm. Fargo will meet with Scott with an open mind,” Gittins said.

Gittins said if punishment is imposed and there is grounds for appeal, “you can be sure we will pursue the appeal.”

The session at Pacific Fleet headquarters in Pearl Harbor will be conducted under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The proceedings will be closed to the public and news media.

Gittins said Waddle has “a number of very good job offers” outside the military and has not decided where he and his family will settle.