Bernard C. Webber
Bernard C. Webber | |
|---|---|
 Bernard C. Webber in his Petty Officer uniform | |
| Born | 1928 (age 95–96) |
| Died | Template:Death year and age 2009 |
| Nationality | USA |
| Occupation | sailor |
| Known for | Lead a remarkable maritime rescue, facing hurricane force winds |
Bernard C. Webber was a member of the United States Coast Guard.[1][2] He was coxswain of Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500, from Station Chatham, Massachusetts, and his crew of three rescued the crew of the stricken tanker SS Pendleton, which had broken in half during a horrific storm on 18 February 1952 off the coast of Massachusetts. Webber maneuvered the 36-foot lifeboat under the Pendleton's stern with expert skill as the tanker's crew, trapped in the stern section, abandoned the wreck of their ship on a Jacobs ladder into the Coast Guard lifeboat.
Webber and his crew of three, EN3 Andrew Fitzgerald; SN Richard Livesey; and SN Irving Maske, saved 32 of the 33 Pendleton's crewmen who were on the stern section of the ship.[1] All four Coast Guardsmen were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroic actions. Their successful rescue operation has been noted as one of the greatest in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Webber joined the Coast Guard in 1946 and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer during a distinguished 20-year military career that included a tour in Vietnam.[1] He was also a veteran of the Merchant Marine during World War II.
He passed away in 2009.[1]
Legacy
The Sentinel class cutter], USCGC Bernard C. Webber (WPC-1101) was named in his honor. She was commissioned in April 2011.
In 2015 Disney Studios publicized plans to make a feature film based on the Pendleton rescue, entitled "The Finest Hours".[3] The film is scheduled for release in the winter of 2016.
References
- ^ a b c d Stephanie Young (2010-10-27). "Coast Guard Heroes". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^ "Bernard C. Webber, USCG 1928-2009". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^
Dan Lamothe (2015-07-13). "The real-life story behind Disney's forthcoming Coast Guard rescue movie, 'The Finest Hours'". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22.
The daring rescue of those mariners is the subject of a forthcoming Disney movie, "The Finest Hours." The first trailer for the film was released last week, underscoring the bravery of the Coast Guardsmen involved in the Feb. 18, 1952, recovery.
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