 Greeneville skipper apologizes to families of victims
Immunity requests may alter inquiry
Navy told of chances to raise Ehime Maru from ocean floor
Investigator urges improvements in subs' ability to rescue
A Tribute to the Missing
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By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
The admirals presiding over the court of inquiry into the fatal collision of a fast-attack submarine and a Japanese fishing boat yesterday offered the first glimpse into their concerns over the command of the USS Greeneville.
Rear Adm. David Stone insisted that he has yet to make up his mind about the actions of the Greeneville's captain, Cmdr. Scott Waddle. But first Stone read from notes on a yellow legal pad about the awesome job of commanding a U.S. warship.
"It is a very unique and special responsibility," Stone said. "... Because lives are at stake, we hold our commanding officers to a very high standard."
He called command at sea nothing less than "precious."
"Those of us who have had command cherish the concept of accountable acts," he said.
Vice Adm. John Nathman clearly was troubled after four days of testimony about problems in the Greeneville's control room on the day of the Feb. 9 collision with the Ehime Maru, which left nine people dead.
Nathman said he couldn't reconcile how an experienced and highly motivated crew like the Greene-ville’s had so many problems that day and even violated the captain’s standing orders regarding tracking ships on the surface.
"Sloppiness," he called some of the procedures. "I ... I just wonder sometimes."
Stone said "prudent, safe and correct actions . . . serve as the basis by which our commanding officers are judged and held accountable."
And just because a captain exercises his best judgment, Stone said, it does not mean that his actions necessarily are "safe ... satisfactory or correct."
Stone then asked the Navy investigator, Rear Adm. Charles Griffiths Jr., to help him understand how a respected leader like Waddle found himself with so many problems inside the Greeneville's control room just before the crash.
"I’ve laid awake for a month now at night thinking about this issue, thinking about Cmdr. Waddle, who is no doubt doing the same thing," Griffiths said. "... He had a bad day where some mistakes were made."
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