USS Greeneville skipper to retire
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) – Cmdr. Scott Waddle raised eyebrows in legal circles when he decided to testify without immunity at a Navy court of inquiry into the USS Greeneville’s collision with a Japanese fishing vessel.
But Waddle’s attorney says the skipper’s testimony may have helped him avoid a court-martial, where a conviction could have drawn a prison sentence.
Japanese families had called on the Navy court of inquiry to recommend a court-martial for Waddle, who was in charge Feb. 9 when the U.S. submarine rammed the Ehime Maru during a surfacing drill and killed nine of their relatives.
At an “admiral’s mast” disciplinary hearing Monday, Waddle was found guilty of two violations of military law: dereliction in performance of duties and negligent hazarding of a vessel.
Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, issued a letter of reprimand to the 41-year-old skipper and took steps to permanently remove him from command. But Fargo decided against a court-martial.
Waddle also received a two-month cut to half salary, but that punishment was suspended – meaning Waddle will receive full pay until he retires by Oct. 1.
The Greeneville’s officer of the deck, Lt. j.g. Michael Coen, and the executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer, also avoided courts-martial, drawing mixed reaction in Japan. Five others also face possible disciplinary actions.
