"He understood the importance in Japan of expressing a personal apology in the case of an accident like the one involving the Greeneville," Gittins said of Waddle, who was born in Japan and spent some years living in the nation.

Waddle, who arrived in Japan on Saturday, met with four survivors and their families in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, on Sunday after offering flowers at a memorial in the city for the nine who died in the accident.

Gittins, however, declined to comment on whether Waddle met with the families of two of the deceased — 17-year-old student Yusuke Terata and the ship's 47-year-old chief engineer Toshimichi Furuya — who have been demanding a meeting with him in Japan as one of the conditions for a settlement.

While under Waddle's command, the 6,080-ton nuclear-powered sub struck the 499-ton Ehime Maru when conducting a rapid-surfacing maneuver as a demonstration for civilian guests aboard, killing nine Uwajima Fisheries High School students, teachers and crew on Feb 9, 2001.

Waddle was stripped of his position as Greeneville captain the day after the accident and reassigned to a desk job in the Navy.

In April 2001, he was reprimanded by the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Adm Thomas Fargo, and was given an honorable discharge from the Navy in September that year, with his rank of commander retained.
(Kyodo News)

Janice Tang

rticle courtesy of:
Japan Today;
http://www.japantoday.com