Bernard C. Webber

Individual photo of Bernard C. Webber (https://www.uscg.mil/ ())

Life as a normal Coast Guard isn't always hard, but saving 33 people from a split ship that is still floating late at night is extreme. Well, that's just how Bernard C. Webber risked his life for others. As a first class petty officer, Webber worked his whole career to become a Chief Petty Officer in the USCG. Bernard and his crew earned the medal of lifesaving from the USCG and the moment they came back rescuing the 32 survivors, people call it the "Greatest rescue in Coast Guard history". During World War II, Webber was a veteran of the Merchant Marine. A true, everyday hero must have Hard work and Bravery. Bernard C. Webber uses Hard work and Bravery; making him a hero.

Bernard C. Webber, a first class Petty Officer, endangers his life not only for the safety of those on a split ship but, also the safety of him and his crew. Webber was just an average man working for the United States Coast Guard. Its was not until a World War II era T2 Oil-tanker split in half some distance away from Cape Cod, that Webber's chief realized that he was there. Bernard C. Webber went to work everyday, worked alongside his shipmates, but was also soon going to marry his fiancee, Miriam Pentinen. It was a normal day when Webber went to work when two T2 Oil-tankers split in halves around the same time in the Atlantic Ocean. Its was his duty, along with 3 of his shipmates, to save the lives of 33 people before the ship near Cape Cod sinks. Webber and his crew had only one boat which was a small 36500 rescue boat, with the capacity of 22 people at most. Even if the small boat was not ideal for rescuing 33 people, Webber just took everything he needed and left shore with his crew as soon as they can. Soon after they all left the coast, Bernard's crew begun to complain about being able to make it to the ship and back home alive. Bernard and his mates had a tough time just heading out in the Atlantic Ocean: "The seas were strikingly high and rough, with northwest winds between forty and fifty miles per hour" ("Coast Guard Heroes: BM1 Bernard Webber"). It wasn't until he reached the "bar" Webber and his crew endanger their lives just making it over the dangerous waves: "Shortly before 6:00 PM, a thirty-six foot motor lifeboat CG-36500, under the command of Bernard C. Webber and manned by Andrew J. Fitzgerald, Edward B. Massey and Richard P. Livesey, departed the Chatham Lifeboat Station. Everything was fine until they hit Chatham Bar where the situation turned critical" (Pendleton). As they manage to get to the other side of the "bar", the 36500 rescue boat has not only lost it's roof, and its window shattered, but it had it's compass that leads them to the boat. Webber's hard work had him and his crew to manage through the hardest part of the Atlantic Ocean during a snowstorm.

Webber and his crew (http://www.cg36500.org/Rescue-story.html ())

Webber's bravery has not only got him to go where the split ship was in the Atlantic without a compass, but it had him from becoming fearful and turning back around. As the night got darker that day, Webber turns his search light off and just continues to go. It took Webber a while to steer around the ocean, he managed to find the the half of the "Pendleton" that held the 33 survivors: "Visibility was poor due to darkness and intermittent snow squalls. After crossing the hazardous Chatham bar, the CG-36500 rounded up to the stern section of the SS Pendleton, where thirty-three survivors were waiting for Webber and his crew to rescue them" ("Coast Guard Heroes: BM1 Bernard Webber"). When Webber told one of his crew members to turn on the searchlight, they saw all 33 of the ship's survivors at the edge of the ship, waving and shouting for them. Webber carefully manage to get near the Pendleton's stern: "By little more than dead reckoning, his compass gone overboard crossing the bar, Bernard C. Webber navigated his tiny lifeboat through 40-foot seas up to Pendleton's stern" (Pendleton). Up to the ship's stern, one of the survivors threw a Jacobs ladder over the side so  the crew was able to get down, but the waves moved the small rescue boat up and down constantly, making it hard for the survivors to get into the boat. One by one, the tanker's crew went down the ladder, struggling to head down as the wind forces the ladder to move. Unfortunately, one of the survivor fell of the Jacobs ladder, causing the merciful death of "Tiny", the ship's cook. All the others were able to make it onto the small rescue boat, leaving the split tanker as it sank: " Webber maneuvered the 36-footer 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" ("Bernard C. Webber, USCG"). Soon enough, the storm died down, leaving everyone freezing but relaxed. After a while of trying find the way back, Webber managed to find the town. Webber bravery has not only got him to find the tanker's crew, it saved the lives of 32 people without a compass during a storm.

Pendleton after the rescue (http://www.cg36500.org/Rescue-story.html ())

Saving or helping others may not always be an everyday person's thing, but it can show the greater side of them. Webber used his hard work to go out in the Atlantic Ocean during a storm, giving him the chance to reach the ship 'Pendleton'. Webber then used his bravery to move through the 40 foot waves, saving a total of 32 people. Finally, he made it back home as soon as the storm ended. Bernard is an inspiration because:  "For their heroic actions, Webber and his crew received the Gold Lifesaving Medal, describing the harrowing rescue efforts that night" (Bernard C. Webber, USCG). Others can connect to him as they save the lives of others, and inspiring to save others too. Webber will always be known for saving lives.

¨Bernard C. Webber, USCG¨. LT Katie Braynard

Saturday, October 17, 2015

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/10/coast-guard-heroes-bm1-bernard-webber/

"Pendleton". 2017 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.