Scott Waddle, former skipper of the U.S. Navy submarine Greeneville, lays a wreath at a memorial in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan on Sunday.Japan Today Photo.
TOKYO — The attorney of visiting Scott Waddle, former skipper of the U.S. Navy submarine Greeneville, on Monday indicated that opposition from the U.S. Navy influenced the delay of Waddle's visit to Japan to apologize for the sub's fatal collision with a Japanese high school fisheries training ship in 2001.
Waddle has, almost from the day of the accident, wanted to meet with the families but was told by the U.S. Navy not to come to Japan, Charles Gittins told a news conference at the Foreign Press Center in Tokyo.
Waddle has, almost from the day of the accident, wanted to meet with the families but was told by the U.S. Navy not to come to Japan, Charles Gittins told a news conference at the Foreign Press Center in Tokyo.
The U.S. Navy suggested that as a civilian and not protected by the status-of-forces agreement between the U.S. and Japan, Waddle could be arrested if he came, according to Gittins.
"The letter (the U.S. Navy) sent indicated they had no interest in having Waddle meet with the families," Gittins claimed.
Gittins, on behalf of Waddle, thanked the Japanese people, Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato, and the high school's principal, Hisao Onishi, for allowing him to visit Ehime Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and the school to offer his apologies to the families of the nine lost at sea and the survivors.
"The letter (the U.S. Navy) sent indicated they had no interest in having Waddle meet with the families," Gittins claimed.
Gittins, on behalf of Waddle, thanked the Japanese people, Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato, and the high school's principal, Hisao Onishi, for allowing him to visit Ehime Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and the school to offer his apologies to the families of the nine lost at sea and the survivors.