Scott Waddle

What was the accusation?

In February 2001, the USS Greenville (a U.S. submarine) inadvertently hit and sunk a Japanese fishing trawler during a routine training exercise off the coast of Hawaii. The incident, resulting in the disappearance of nine Japanese passengers, enflamed Japanese dissent over the presence of U.S. military personnel in Japan and triggered significant public criticism against the submarine’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Scott Waddle. In response to demands for an apology, Waddle released a statement via his attorney to Japan’s NHK public television network expressing his “most sincere regret” for the accident. “No words can adequately express my condolences and concern for those who have lost their loved ones,” Waddle wrote, noting his desire for full disclosure during the court of inquiry’s investigation “so that such a disastrous accident never again occurs.”

Key Apologia Strategies:

Mortification

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Sources

French, H.W. (2001, February 28). U.S. admiral delivers apology to the Japanese in sub sinking. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/28/world/us-admiral-delivers-apology-to-the-japanese-in-sub-sinking.html

Sciolino, E. (2001, March 1). Sub commander apologizes more directly to families. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/01/us/sub-commander-apologizes-more-directly-to-families.html

Sub commander expresses ‘sincere regret’ to families of victims. (2001, February 26). Deseret News. Retrieved from http://www.deseretnews.com/article/827798/Sub-commander-expresses-sincere-regret-to-families-of-victims.html