Posted on: Monday, January 28, 2002

Navy's Ehime Maru salvage unit honored

Advertiser Staff

Operations to recover the missing crew members of the Ehime Maru was a watershed event for the crew of Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One.

In response to those efforts, Adm. Toru Ishikawa, the chief of staff for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force presented MDSU-1 with the equivalent of the U.S. Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation.

MDSU-1 was responsible for the planning, coordination and performance of all diving operations.

The Navy raised the 830-ton Ehime Maru from a depth of 2,000 feet after it was struck and sunk by the fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville on Feb. 9 during a surfacing drill. Nine Japanese men and boys died in the collision, which sent the fishing training vessel to the ocean floor nine miles south of Diamond Head.

The Navy promised the families that it would attempt to recover the missing crewmen, and successfully moved the Ehime Maru to a shallow-water recovery site in an operation that cost more than $60 million.

Divers recovered eight bodies in October.

In farewell remarks, Capt. Masao Kuramoto, commanding officer of JDS Chihaya, acknowledged the efforts of divers assigned to MDSU-1.

"The professionalism and enthusiasm of the MDSU-1 divers inspired all of the crewmembers onboard JDS Chihaya throughout this entire operation," Kuramoto said.

"The MDSU divers' sincere and earnest commitment during the sensitive search and recovery phase impressed not only the JMSDF divers, but also the rest of the crew, and motivated everyone to take this matter very seriously."

Kuramoto also said as Japanese nationals, "we admire and appreciate your treatment of the family members with your heartfelt sincerity."