FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard C Webber ~ 10 November 2025

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Bernard C. Webber
All info and photos from this website.

           

One of the Coast Guard's legendary heroes, Senior Chief Petty Officer Bernard C. Webber (USCG Ret) died at his home in Melbourne, Florida Saturday, January 24, 2009. He is survived by his widow, Miriam (Pentinen) Webber, a daughter, Patricia Hamilton and her husband Bruce, two granddaughters, Leah and Hilary Hamilton of Shamong, NJ and North Eastham, a son, Bernard E. Webber and a grandson, Shane Webber of California.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Bernard C. Webber is one of the "Chatham Legends".

On February 18, 1952, he took the CG36500 out of Chatham Station with three volunteers-Seaman Ervin Maske, Seaman Richard Livesey and Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Fitzgerald, an Engineman, responding to the tanker Pendleton, which had broken in two off Chatham in a storm. Seaman Maske was at Chatham Station awaiting transport to the Lightship Stonehorse but remained ashore because the Coast Guard deemed the seas too rough to transport him. He volunteered, along with the two Chatham Coast Guardsmen who volunteered to accompany Mr. Webber.

The Coast Guard crew faced 60 foot waves, hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions to rescue 33 sailors who survived the shipwreck. While the CG36500 was leaving Chatham Harbor, her compass and windshield were smashed and the rescue boat began shipping water. They persevered, and by dead reckoning they finally sighted the stern section of the Pendleton, where the ship's crew was awaiting rescue. They only lost one man-the ship's cook, George D. "Tiny" Myers,

The four who manned the rescue boat all received coveted Coast Guard Gold Life-saving Medals for their heroism in what is considered by maritime historians to be "The Greatest Small Boat Rescue in Coast Guard History." Of the four, only Engineman Fitzgerald is still alive.

Senior Chief Webber was born in Milton, MA in 1928, the son of the late Rev. A. Bernard Webber and Annie Knight Webber. He was one of four sons --all of whom served in the U.S. Military during World War II-- Paul in the Army in Europe, Bob in the Coast Guard and Bill in the Army Transportation Corp.

When he was only 16, Bernie Webber joined the Merchant Marine Service and trained at Sheepshead Bay Maritime School in New York. When World War II ended, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and attended "boot camp" at Curtis Bay, MD. He was transferred to Cape Cod to serve Lighthouse duty at Highland Lighthouse in North Truro and later went to the Gay Head Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard. He first saw the CG36500 when he returned to Chatham for a visit. He was transferred to Chatham Station in 1949. After the Pendleton rescue, he transferred to Woods Hole and didn't return to Chatham until 1954 and served there only until 1955.

His final tour of duty at Chatham ended in 1963 when he was transferred to Cross Rip Lightship until it was decommissioned. Mr. Webber was reassigned to the CG Cutter Point Banks out of Woods Hole. From there he and the ship were ordered to Vietnam. When he returned from 'Nam, he was assigned to the Buoy Tender Hornbeam in Woods Hole and finally retired from the Coast Guard as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, serving as a Warrant Bosun (WO1), on September 1, 1966. During his time in this region, he also served at Nauset Lifeboat Station, Race Point Lifeboat Station, aboard a Coast Guard tug out of Southwest Harbor, Maine and the Nantucket Lightship.

Senior Chief Webber met his wife Miriam Pentinen, a native of Wellfleet, when he first served duty in North Truro. They were married July 16, 1950 in Milton in a ceremony performed by his father, Rev. A. Bernard Webber.

After he left the Coast Guard, Mr. Webber served as Wellfleet Harbor Master, reconditioned boats for Nauset Auto and Marine in Orleans, partnered on a charter boat out of Rock Harbor, Orleans. In "retirement" he worked for the National Audubon Society in Maine and later for Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine. He also worked in the marine field for dredging, towboat and salvage companies and even served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In his book, "Chatham: The Lifeboatmen", he wrote: "After 42 years of work on the sea, it became time to come home."

His widow Miriam said that Mr. Webber will be cremated and his remains will be interred with military honors in a family plot in Wellfleet on May 9, 2009.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[PROCON]

Good evening Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard C Webber ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope you had a restful and nice weather day.

We had bright sunshine mid-day when I had to go out for errands and gas.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Crazy day up there weather-wise. REAL foggy overnight into the early afternoon, cleared up beautifully, and now it looks like fog is setting over town and over in your direction again. Still clear out by the airports though.
The fog left a thick layer of hoarfrost on the trees. Gorgeous but it looks so cold!!!!!!!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...amazing that they were able to rescue so many in such horrid sea conditions.

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

How’s it going up your way? Have a good weekend?

Feeling a bit too much like winter here today. It really hurts after a gorgeous 75-degree day yesterday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...better weather today? Tippy enjoying the cooler weather?

[PROCON]

Good weekend my way as far as weather goes, sunny and mid-50's with more coming.

I visited Robin & the pups today too.

Son has a few days off next week so we're planning on heading to the gun range on Wednesday, hope it works out.

'Sup your way?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[luvie]

Senior Chief Bernard Webber of the Coast Guard was a true hero. May he rest in peace.
I salute him!

[Kathy in Alaska]

So far no fog here. I can see the school and last night I could not.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie, and thanks for helping honor our Coast Guard hero.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Patton, Monty, and Bradley in Normandy

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ak-PC2lxibQ

https://www.youtube.com/@WW2Wayfinder/shorts

German Army Surrenders 1945

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tlzU3BZdURc

Eagles Nest

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2G4Ffmz_vK0

Victory In The Alps

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zfvXMag-S04

The Pacific - Honor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXw_GjEWFi8&list=RDYXw_GjEWFi8&start_radio=1

[radu]

Sounds like you had a good weekend. Sounds like an even better week ahead, heading out to the shooting range. I hope the weather holds so y’all can have some shoot-em-up fun.

Had a good beginning of the weekend here. A neighbor came over yesterday to gather some pecans for holiday baking and we had a good time outside. The weather was perfect. Holed up today and will be tomorrow. Too cold. But it’ll warm back up Tuesday through the rest of the week and life will be good again. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Have a good day? How much of a cool-down did you get from the front, if any at all?

Cloudy, windy, and chilly with the temp dropping slowly but surely all day.

[radu]

Good! The fog I see must be closer to the airports, between there and your part of town. It’s really lit up over town by the streetlights.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It really DID cool down. I don’t think it ever even reached 60 ° today, and right now it’s 47. However, I didn’t wear a jacket...just a cardigan sweater this morning. On Thursday, it’s gonna be at least 83. LOL! Wheeeee...the roller coaster is alive and well.

Sounds like you have real winter weather there. I know you’re thankful for your great heating system there in that house!