FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Bernard C Webber ~ 23 August 2021

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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!                                                 

[radu]

Plenty of other moons. I just need to think to grab the camera and go out to get shots of it. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you and Gizmo have a nice drive through the countryside yesterday? Does it look like you’ll be able to head out to the lake later today?

[luvie]

Well, yeah, there is that part. LOL!

[E.G.C.]

We did get to do a ride in the country yesterday which Gizmo enjoyed. We also had KFC supper as well.

One of Gizmo's favorite spots is under the disability ramp as you can see here.

If there is no heat advisory today we will do the lake later today. If they issue one this morning we will do it this morning.

[radu]

I don’t think about it every month and many times when I do, the moon’s high in the sky with nothing around it to make for an interesting pic. Or it’s cloudy and can’t be seen. I hate I missed out tonight. It was a beautiful sight.

[radu]

At least y’all got out for a bit, even if just for a drive rather than a romp. That pile of KFC made the day a good one. :-)

Underneath that ramp is a great spot for Giz to stay cool. He probably thinks you built it just for him. LOL

Maybe you’ll get lucky and have no heat advisory for today. Fingers crossed for luck!

[luvie]

I’m just glad it was clear enough here to see it at all. It was lovely.

Yep...I’m up way too late. See ya tomorrow! :)

[left that other site]

Of course, the allegedly waterproof saddlebags have been known to fill up with water on occaision.

But THEY are not original equipment.

[luvie]

Ima take this first! :)

[luvie]

Ima take this first! :)

[luvie]

Gooood mornin', Early Birds!
How 'bout that hero for the week!
He did it all for US!
That's called sacrificial love!
Well, it's heating back up here in the desert.
I hope it's the "last hurrah" before fall.
Here's hoping you all have a Mahv'lus Monday
...and a Wonderful Week!
(((hugs)))

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“I hope it’s the “last hurrah” before fall.”

I smelled Autumn in the air yesterday and my nose never fails me. It is early this year by a couple of weeks. ;-)

[luvie]

Ahhhh...thank you, spel’s nose! I hope it doesn’t fail this time.