By Steve Liewer, Stars and Stripes

Reaction ranges from anger to understanding about the Navy’s letter of reprimand to the USS Greeneville commander for the fatal accident with a Japanese fishing school boat.

Capt. Scott Waddle also will be allowed to retire gracefully, which did not surprise Pacific servicemembers.

The news angered the father of Japanese victim, Yusuke, Terata, one of the nine presumed dead. He compared the decision to a forgiving father punishing his son.

"To me, the decision is far from being fair," Ryosuke Terata said. "Had the accident involved American high school students and crewmembers (who were) U.S. citizens, American public would never accept the decision … I cannot help but to think that U.S. Navy made such a lenient decision because the victims were not Americans, but Japanese."

Terata said Waddle should be dishonorably discharged and tried for criminal negligence.

Hidenori Doi, a city councilman in the Ehime Maru’s home port of Uwajima and a fishing school alumnus, said he expected the decision, though he considers it too lenient. But he hopes the Americans will not let the Ehime Maru tragedy end here.

"I now want to ask them to make thorough investigation for the cause of the accident," Ishibashi said. "Otherwise the victims will not be able to rest in peace."

Few of his peers thought Waddle meant any harm when, distracted by civilian guests, he failed to properly search for ships before pushing the USS Greeneville to the surface. The submarine rammed the fishing boat as it steamed near Hawaii on Feb. 9.

But the tradition that the captain takes responsibility for errors under his command is as old as the Navy.

"I think it’s probably the best decision for the Navy," said Lt. Tom Mathison, 42, an officer aboard the Japan-based cruiser USS Cowpens. "Given that he’s the commanding officer of the ship, he’s ultimately responsible."

"A mistake was made," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Bond of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Depot in Misawa, Japan. "The captain always goes down with the ship."

Some servicemembers thought other Greeneville crewmembers should answer for their mistakes, too.

"You knew that someone was going to take the blame," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kutistia Ragland of Yokosuka’s U.S. Naval Hospital. "I think it’s kind of bad they want to put it all on one guy. It’s a team. No one man did it alone."

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kim Correa, of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Guam, said Waddle deserved the reprimand. But she wanted to know why the Greeneville’s executive officer and junior officers weren’t punished as well.

"(Waddle) got off lucky," Correa said. "He should be grateful."

Her colleague, Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Bower, said he, too, felt Waddle got off easy.

"He did wrong," Bower said. "I’m a submariner, too. He should have been discharged, at least. He screwed up."

Airman 1st Class Aaron White, assigned to the 730th Air Mobility Squadron at Yokota Air Base, does not believe justice was served.

"According to what we’re taught, officers are held to a higher standard," he said. "Why are they not punished by a higher standard?"

Airman 1st Class Michael Ferguson at Yokota, agreed.

"You get a letter of reprimand for missing an appointment or being late numerous times … not for sinking a boat."

Virginia Downs, a Risco, Mo. native, who was waiting for a space-available flight said Waddle’s punishment will have to live with the accident.

"I think he’ll pay for the rest of his life," she said.

Staff writers Donovan Brooks, Wayne Specht, Jennifer Svan and Chiyomi Sumida contributed to this report.