A sign proclaiming Draughon Hall is unveiled earlier this month at Misawa Air Base, Japan, during a ceremony honoring a Navy diver who died two years ago while salvaging F-16 crash wreckage in the Pacific Ocean near the base. (Wayne Specht / S&S file photo)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Nearly three weeks after Navy officials here held a ceremony renaming an Air Force building in memory of a drowned Navy diver, a bureaucratic shuffle is keeping the building’s new sign under wraps.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Draughon, a diver aboard the Sasebo, Japan-based USS Safeguard salvage ship, died May 5, 2001, while salvaging wreckage of an F-16 that crashed just offshore of Ripsaw training range, 12 miles north of Misawa Air Base.
To honor the sailor, Navy officials two years ago began gaining Air Force approval to rename the training range and a soon-to-be-completed $3 million refurbished billeting facility — Building 520.
As the renovation neared completion earlier this year, Misawa Naval Air Facility’s skipper, Capt. Richard High, invited Draughon’s parents, John and Betty Draughon of Hendersonville, N.C., to travel to Japan at Navy expense for the May 5 renaming ceremony.
A large sign proclaiming “Draughon Hall” was constructed to grace the building’s entryway, and a display case holding Draughon’s diving suit and personal memorabilia also was built.
Just days prior to the ceremony, High said he received a letter approving the renaming of Ripsaw training range signed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. The letter was dated April 25, 2003.
While the Navy proceeded with its timetable for its ceremony, Air Force officials informed High of a stipulation — two buildings on the same installation cannot be named after the same person.
As the Air Force waited for approval from higher headquarters for the renaming of Building 520, the Navy weighed anchor and held the ceremony.
“We contacted the base leadership, and nobody said it wasn’t going to happen,” High said. “It was leadership by negation; nobody said ‘no.’”
An Air Force spokesman here, however, said official Air Force headquarters approval for the building renaming had not arrived as of this week.
“We are pushing hard to have that building renamed by going through official channels,” said Capt. John Haynes, public affairs chief for the 35th Fighter Wing.
He said the request was sent from the base “more than a year ago.”
High said although the sign was placed on the building for a few days prior to the ceremony, it hasn’t been permanently affixed pending approval from the Air Force.
High said he informed the 35th Fighter Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Dana Atkins, of his decision to hold the ceremony.
Atkins did not attend since he was in Hawaii, Haynes said. Col. Jeff Stambaugh, acting wing commander, represented the Air Force at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the issue of dual naming remains.
“The only problem with it is the Air Force balked because their instructions said you can’t name two buildings for the same person,” High said. “My argument is this isn’t considered the same facility; the range is in the north region, that’s my interpretation.”
He said he was told by Air Force officials a waiver could be granted to have both facilities bear Draughon’s name.
“I’m not asking for a waiver right now,” High said.
Haynes said he hopes the approval will be forthcoming soon.
“We would like nothing more than to see that happen,” he said. “It’s a very worthy cause.”
