Inquiry impresses families of victims

Associated Press

The first Monday in March, six family members nervously marched into a Pearl Harbor courtroom and angrily stared at USS Greeneville's captain.

When the Navy court of inquiry ended Tuesday, they came out with their notebooks full of details from the testimony, and a small omiyage to bring home — a surprise testimony under oath by the submarine's captain, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, at the end.

"It was worth the long trip," said Tatsuyoshi Mizuguchi, whose 17-year-old son Takeshi never was found. "Many questions remained unanswered, but it was good at least he testified."

During nearly three weeks of the inquiry into the submarine's responsibility in the Feb. 9 collision, the relatives of the Ehime Maru victims struggled to come to terms with their losses.

It also gave them a chance to heal and regain hope. Some of their demands were met along the way — Waddle's apology, his testimony and the ship's possible recovery.

Though they still think Waddle should take responsibility for the accident, the families see him as a person, not an enemy in a file photo.

"I don't think he is the only one who should take the blame," said Naoko Nakata, widow of a 33-year-old teacher, Jun.

Perhaps the biggest breakthrough, though symbolic, was a long-awaited apology from Waddle.

"Our wounds in our hearts won't heal for a long time, but I realized Mr. Waddle and his family have suffered, too," said Kazuo Nakata, Jun's father.

The families had been suspicious of the Navy's ability to conduct an objective probe of its own men. But their concern faded as witnesses faced tough questions from the inquiry panel of admirals.

"Earlier, I suspected it would be a performance," said Ryosuke Terata, father of a 17-year-old student Yusuke, who never was found. "I was rather impressed how well they did."

He urged the admirals in their report to clearly state what and who exactly caused the accident.

The court of inquiry's probe also was welcomed in Tokyo.

The U.S. side provided "substantial amount of information," sociologist Masaaki Noda wrote recently in regional Tokyo Shimbun. "So that they can answer questions from the public's point of view."

Many Japanese were enraged by reports that USS Greenville was demonstrating the surfacing drill for civilian guests, and that some of them were at the controls during the collision.

The accident quickly became a political and diplomatic issue.

Following demands from government leaders in Tokyo, the Navy last week issued a statement that the Ehime Maru can be raised if it doesn't pose environmental threats to the area. The sunken ship is the last hope for the families to find the remains of the nine victims.

The sub slammed and sank the Ehime Maru during its emergency surfacing maneuver. Four students were among the nine missing, now presumed dead. Of the 35 aboard, 26 were rescued.

Yet, the loss of their loved ones is hard to overcome.

Families stick to the word "missing" and plan to do so until their loved ones' remains are identified.

Outside the courtroom, the family members were warmly received by local people. Citizens' delivered tens of thousands of dollars of donations from around the United States. Hawai'i signed sympathy messages, and children's choir performed songs for the families.

"I think we can move on," Terata said, adding that he now understands Waddle also had undergone difficult times. "Now I kind of feel sorry for him."