Rating: 
Summary: A must read book
Review: As a former Marine and a christian I paid close attention to the events that surrounded Scott Waddle. I can honestly say that the more I learned about him the more he became and is a personal hero of mine. This book is a combination on leadership lessons, autobiography, and the test of a man's christian faith. This book is a must read there are many lessons one can learn from this true Naval leader. It is a loss to the Navy that Scott Waddle is no longer amoung it's ranks.
Rating:
Summary: Faith and retribution
Review: CDR Waddle's personal account of his journey through fire brings those of us who have never experienced personal and public tragedy the unique opportunity to witness the event through the eyes of the man who was at the center of it all.Well written, thoughtful and compelling issues are bound to help those in need of help who are experiencing crisis in their lives. Leaders and managers can learn from the successes and the shortcomings of this christian man. An excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: A Recovery Manual for Failure
Review: Commander Scott Waddle (with the help of Ken Abraham) has written a compelling account of his experience with not only a major failure in his life, but a very public one. Most people would choose to write about their successes. Commander Waddle has written about his failure in this very personal account of what happened while he was commanding the USS Greeneville nuclear submarine, ordering a surface that resulted in a collision with a Japenese fishing vessell filled with high school students. Nine people died. Rather than duck, cover, and make excuses, Commander Waddle took full responsibility for his actions that led to this tragedy. As a result Commander Waddle was forced to resign and leave the Navy. He shares how his faith in God sustained him - but not in a preachy way. If you've ever experienced failure, read this book to find the strength to get back up again and move forward. Commander Waddle is living proof that "failure is not final."
Rating:
Summary: A Recovery Manual for Failure
Review: Commander Scott Waddle (with the help of Ken Abraham) has written a compelling account of his experience with not only a major failure in his life, but a very public one. Most people would choose to write about their successes. Commander Waddle has written about his failure in this very personal account of what happened while he was commanding the USS Greeneville nuclear submarine, ordering a surface that resulted in a collision with a Japenese fishing vessell filled with high school students. Nine people died. Rather than duck, cover, and make excuses, Commander Waddle took full responsibility for his actions that led to this tragedy. As a result Commander Waddle was forced to resign and leave the Navy. He shares how his faith in God sustained him - but not in a preachy way. If you've ever experienced failure, read this book to find the strength to get back up again and move forward. Commander Waddle is living proof that "failure is not final."
Rating:
Summary: The Right Thing, No!, The Awesome Thing!!!
Review: Commander Waddle did what many others would have found challenging at best and to top that he was willing to tell the world. A great book for christain men and woman to read and learn commitment,courage and compassion. I will take away many good lessons for my own life. Commander Waddle brings us into his life as a Naval Officer and you know he is a true Christian man when the story ends. Thank you Commander Waddle.
Rating:
Summary: The Right Thing
Review: Having worked for the nuclear submarine Navy as a civilian engineer for 30 years, I found much of high interest in this book, in addition to Scott Waddle's personal account of this tragic accident. Clearly Scott made a supreme attempt at objectivity and honesty. He pulls no punches with himself and with others. This book raises many thoughtful issues. Scott ask in different ways, why did God let this happen? The question is asked by every generation. I would say to Scott, when God created our world He gave us the gift of freedom. In so doing He precluded even Himself from interfering with our activities. In fact, He set the Cosmos in motion with integrated rules that prevent Him from taking "hands on" control. God apparently chose not to exercise celestial tyranny as thought by the ancient Greeks. Thus evil may coexist with good, and ugliness with beauty. But we notice that we, being instruments of the Cosmos, gravitate to goodness and beauty, and when the Cosmos is left to its devices, beauty reigns. Scott is also concerned with the dichotomy of close managerial control vs. maximization of freedom of expression. For Admiral Rickover, close managerial control provided a perfect safety record with Navy nuclear reactors. On the other hand, an allowance for self expression makes for happier people and improved productivity. But when public safety is paramount, or when team precision is essential, checks on the decisions and work of individuals must be made. People do make mistakes. Aboard USS Greeneville the web apparently had weak links. Regarding the accident, it could probably have happened to any commander once the statistically unlikely series of causes came into alignment. Commander Waddle had some part in the supply of those causes. But he also had plain bad luck. The Navy resolution was about right in my view. It would have been wrong to take away his retirement, considering that he was so dedicated and such a hard worker. But he could not have been allowed to keep his command, otherwise the message to all commanders would be, having a collision in peacetime is not likely to result in loss of command. Much has been made of the politics, but in the end I don't think this influenced the Navy decision. While loss of 9 lives is a terrible tragedy, the Japanese folks should understand the going to sea in fishing boats is a risky profession. Working aboard submarines during repair and at sea I have always been impressed by the quality of submarine commanders. Scott Waddle is no exception. And I know he will do well in civilian life. I wish him well. Rod Hug
Rating: 
Summary: A Man of Integrity
Review: Having worked for the nuclear submarine Navy as a civilian engineer for 30 years, I found much of high interest in this book, in addition to Scott Waddle's personal account of this tragic accident. Clearly Scott made a supreme attempt at objectivity and honesty. He pulls no punches with himself and with others. This book raises many thoughtful issues. Scott ask in different ways, why did God let this happen? The question is asked by every generation. I would say to Scott, when God created our world He gave us the gift of freedom. In so doing He precluded even Himself from interfering with our activities. In fact, He set the Cosmos in motion with integrated rules that prevent Him from taking "hands on" control. God apparently chose not to exercise celestial tyranny as thought by the ancient Greeks. Thus evil may coexist with good, and ugliness with beauty. But we notice that we, being instruments of the Cosmos, gravitate to goodness and beauty, and when the Cosmos is left to its devices, beauty reigns. Scott is also concerned with the dichotomy of close managerial control vs. maximization of freedom of expression. For Admiral Rickover, close managerial control provided a perfect safety record with Navy nuclear reactors. On the other hand, an allowance for self expression makes for happier people and improved productivity. But when public safety is paramount, or when team precision is essential, checks on the decisions and work of individuals must be made. People do make mistakes. Aboard USS Greeneville the web apparently had weak links. Regarding the accident, it could probably have happened to any commander once the statistically unlikely series of causes came into alignment. Commander Waddle had some part in the supply of those causes. But he also had plain bad luck. The Navy resolution was about right in my view. It would have been wrong to take away his retirement, considering that he was so dedicated and such a hard worker. But he could not have been allowed to keep his command, otherwise the message to all commanders would be, having a collision in peacetime is not likely to result in loss of command. Much has been made of the politics, but in the end I don't think this influenced the Navy decision. While loss of 9 lives is a terrible tragedy, the Japanese folks should understand the going to sea in fishing boats is a risky profession. Working aboard submarines during repair and at sea I have always been impressed by the quality of submarine commanders. Scott Waddle is no exception. And I know he will do well in civilian life. I wish him well. Rod Hug
Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: I have served onboard USS Greeneville for the last three years. After I finished reading the book, I at first did not know what to feel, but later I became simply angry and did not know why. Now I do. Many of his claims about what the command was like and what a supposedly wonderful boat we were under his command are simply false. Much of the success we enjoyed under CDR Waddle was due to the well-trained senior enlisted and officers from CDR Guy's tour as CO. True, the climate was enjoyable, and I did enjoy coming to work every day, but the same standards of behavior and performance were not applied to nuclear and non-nuclear personnel. This is what led to 9 Feb, not an isolated 8 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: Brave, repentant, accountable, and forgiven
Review: I remember watching the news reports of the tragic collision between the USS Greeneville and the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru two years ago. I felt great compassion for the victims and their families, but I also felt sorry for the Sub Commander who despite his own grief over the 9 deaths, and the end of his career, found the strength to try and do what was right. "The Right Thing" tells us the behind-the-scenes story of how Commander Waddle was left adrift at sea by the Navy in the aftermath of the tragedy with little direction, support or even adequate legal representation. Despite it all (guilt over the loss of life, the pain of being relieved of command, the intense pressure and expense of mounting a legal campaign to save his own life, being at the center of an international incident and media firestorm, and disappointment over the actions/inaction of the Navy he loved and served for 24 years)Commander Waddle took full responsibility for the accident and the performance of his crew. He even took the witness stand at great peril and against the strong advice of is lawyers. His requests to officially apologize after the incident were unheeded, and yet he felt compelled to personally apologize to the Japanese Government and to the families of the victims themselves. The irony here is that his actions after the event actually upheld the honor of the Navy and the United States, despite their treatment of him. The testimony given in the Inquiry gives us the startling facts of what really happened and who actually had the information that could have avoided the accident. I was inspired by this book. I was inspired by Commander Waddle's faith, determination and character. Ten chapters in I could not put it down and read until the early hours to finish.
Rating:
Summary: The Right Thing
Review: I was extremely happy with this book read it in one seating as I found it very compelling and could not put it down. I had followed Cmdr. Waddles case through the media and of course television reviews. I was favorably impressed with Scott Waddle at the time and his wife and attorney in interviews. But I was especially glad to read the Cdr.s explanation of the accident without some of the distoration of the meia. After reading this book you realize how badly at times his case was handled by the Navy and that they lost a very brillant young officer when Scott retired. Our loss and the Navy's. This is a well written acount of what actually took place an honest account, and certainly well worth reading!
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