FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard C Webber ~ 20 July 2015

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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!

In first....Janey grabs the gold!!

21 posted on 07/19/2015 6:12:18 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W

22 posted on 07/19/2015 6:16:30 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

To: Kathy in Alaska

We made some progress this weekend - paneling at the bottom of the basement stairs done. The boys and a couple of their friends helped. I used both my scroll saw and Dremel tool to good effect.

"Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre / mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað."
"Thought must be the harder, heart be the keener / mind must be the greater, as our might lessens."

23 posted on 07/19/2015 6:23:27 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good evening, Kathy!!

Oh my, we are melting here, just about unbearable. We did have rain — it made matters worse. The humidity is so high clothes just stick.

Precious came to visit yesterday, she is a hoot. I was given some super pictures so will try to bet some to you.

24 posted on 07/19/2015 6:30:08 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

And in second....The Mayor snags the silver!!

25 posted on 07/19/2015 6:30:37 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

To: Kathy in Alaska

26 posted on 07/19/2015 6:31:34 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( "Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")

Thanks Star for putting the thread together.

27 posted on 07/19/2015 6:32:18 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

Quality time with son-boy is a good thing. Enjoy!

28 posted on 07/19/2015 6:33:15 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

And rounding out the top three....EX bags the bronze!!

29 posted on 07/19/2015 6:49:40 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

30 posted on 07/19/2015 6:52:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

....if ya can.... :)

31 posted on 07/19/2015 7:02:29 PM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!w)

To: Kathy in Alaska

God Rest His Soul....

32 posted on 07/19/2015 7:05:21 PM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!w)

33 posted on 07/19/2015 7:17:03 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))...did your weekend go well?

Puppy still on the agenda later this month?

Ready to take on the new week?

It’s back to work for me with my new eye. Computer monitor is still the best distance so far, so I’m thinking this is a good thing. Have to wait a month before I’ll know if I will need glasses. Then comes the other eye and another month’s wait.

34 posted on 07/19/2015 7:45:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

To: Kathy in Alaska

Evening, Kathy. Another great hero!

35 posted on 07/19/2015 8:10:27 PM PDT by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)

To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; mylife; PROCON; Publius; NYTexan; StarCMC; All

*HUG*
Hi Ma.
Thank you and Star for this thread!
*yawn*
I’m sorry to yawn, I have been plagued
with insomnia this weekend.
I haven’t had much sleep the past few nights.
Hope I can sleep tonight!

36 posted on 07/19/2015 8:23:25 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)

Take a deep breath, and think pleasant thoughts.

37 posted on 07/19/2015 8:24:42 PM PDT by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)

To: left that other site

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...how’s Mom doing?

Prayers of peace and healing for Mom and Steve....and to you, a good week.

38 posted on 07/19/2015 8:48:59 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))

Hey Prof!
(GENTLE HUG AND CHASTE SMOOCH)
Where did you go last night?
LOL

39 posted on 07/19/2015 8:53:54 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)

I hope you sleep better tonight! I’ve had the same problem and have blamed it on the heat. Makes sleeping [or anything else] uncomfortable.

I’ve been taking melatonin at night and I think it helps. Doesn’t make me deadheaded like benadryl does.

40 posted on 07/19/2015 8:57:04 PM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!w)

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