'The Right Thing to Do'

Commander Scott Waddle was in his private hell. His submarine, the U.S.S. Greeneville, had sunk a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii, killing nine people. His career in the Navy was over. He was potentially facing a court-martial. His lawyer had told him to remain silent. And still Waddle decided to stand up last week and testify at the Navy's court of inquiry into the accident. "This court needs to hear from me. It is the right thing to do," said Waddle.

The courtroom was stunned. It was the 12th and final day of testimony in the inquiry into why the 6,300-ton nuclear...