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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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