The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on Friday told the former captain of the USS Greeneville he will not face a court-martial over the Feb. 9 sinking of the Ehime Maru but will instead receive a nonjudicial punishment as early as Monday, sources close to the case said.
Adm. Thomas Fargo is expected to order former Greeneville Cmdr. Scott Waddle to undergo a disciplinary hearing without a court-martial for his role in the sinking of the 499-ton Ehime Maru, which left nine Japanese missing at sea, including four high school students, the sources said.
In the hearing, known as an admiral's mast, Waddle could be asked to submit a letter of resignation to end his nearly 20-year navy career with an honorable discharge and his rank and pension intact.
In that event, Waddle would probably leave the service with an honorable discharge after he reaches 20 years' service on May 27.