Cmdr. Waddle

Posted 1 year, 7 months ago at 4:16 pm. 0 comments

I had the honor today to meet Cmdr. Waddle and listen to him speak. I remember the tragic event of his submarine hitting the Japanese boat and recall the media frenzy that followed.

I remember telling myself people make mistakes. I thought it was rather stupid civilians were on the submarine. They have no business being on there and that crew shouldn’t of been put in the position to “show off” for civilians on board a submarine. They are dangerous anyways and very high skilled piece of equipment. Does this remove the blame? No. However, Cmdr. Weddle is very well aware of the blame and completely blames himself. I could feel the emotion in his words today. He knows he killed 9 people and took their lives. He lives with it everyday. I was shocked at the time how he was treated. People just ripped him apart like he was garbage and could care less about his side of the story. He told his side of the story and did not hide like a coward.

I learned something today from him. Strength. Hearing him explain how low he got to the point he wanted to kill his daughter, wife and himself to shield them from the pain and agony. He was not thinking rationally and had slipped to the deepest pits. He hung his head high and continued. It made me realize that even as hard as times get for me they can be worse. I can keep going. He did and no matter what bullshit people spew about him.

Cmdr. Waddle is one hell of a man and a true American man that served this country well and my heart breaks for him. He did a lot of good and I feel for his pain of what he has to live with the rest of his life.