Few who saw Robert J. Yered, the weathered, aging groundskeeper in faded jeans at a local Massachusetts high school, thought he was anything more than a kind retiree trying to stay busy. Yered never offered clues to his past, but this quiet man, who passed in 2009, was a hero in the Vietnam War. The […]
In this interview on The Writer’s Block, I share the story behind my new book, New England’s Lifesaver, and reflect on the remarkable 42-year Coast Guard career of Master Chief Jack Downey—his leadership, his rescues, and the legacy he left across New England.
W. Russell Webster and USCG (Ret) Cicalese CAPT Michael A. New England’s Lifesaver: Coast Guard Legend Master Chief Jack Downey. The History Press, 2025. Review by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA) The United States Coast Guard has long been one of the most trusted guardians of the maritime world. For merchant mariners in distress, the Coast Guard […]
CHATHAM – There’s no shortage of yarns about Jack Downey. Most stories about the legendary Coast Guardsman were appreciative, a few recollections were less than flattering, and there were likely plenty that could never be put in print. But Downey’s imprint on the Coast Guard — both its procedures and its culture — was as […]
The United States Coast Guard honored William C. Hart, a Philadelphia native born in 1898, for heroism with its most significant rescue accolade, after he saved a crewman from the Tug Thomas Tracy which was stranded on Absecon Bar, New Jersey, on Nov. 16, 1926.
The Coast Guard’s sixth Commandant, Frederick Billard personally conveyed the Gold Lifesaving Medal of the First Class in a formal ceremony at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, on Nov. 29, 1927. During the 70 years from 1874 to 1944, only 600 Gold Lifesaving Medals — the Coast Guard’s highest merit for rescuing personnel — were issued to heroes from all walks of life. These rare medals were awarded “upon any persons who shall hereafter endanger their own lives in saving or endeavoring to save lives from perils of the sea, within the United States, or upon any American vessel.”
In an unassuming burial plot in a rural cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado, the grave of a Coast Guard hero, Joseph Doyle, remains unadorned — no marker, stone, or flag. Joseph Doyle was born in New York on April 17, 1836. When he was 42 years old, he led two famous rescues during his tenure as the Keeper of the U.S. Life-Saving Station in Charlotte, New York, a post to which he was appointed on July 11, 1878.
An essay about my year back at CGA Forty-five years after graduating in the Class of 1977, I returned to New London in August 2022 to teach for a year. During our class’s monthly virtual meeting, my classmates were curious if anything on campus had changed. The best I could say was, ‘everything is the […]
To this day, Webber’s crew is referred to as the “Gold Medal Crew” involved in the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history.
This article recounts the 1997 Morning Dew sailing vessel tragedy in Charleston Harbor, highlighting U.S. Coast Guard communication failures. It discusses the subsequent overhaul with the Rescue 21 system, addressing technological and procedural shortcomings.
Watch my Zoom webinar about the Pendleton rescue and the lessons we can learn about leadership
Having come to the aid of more than 700 mariners in his 41-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard, Jack Downey is being remembered locally as the one who rescued an entire Coast Guard station when it was foundering.
Courtesy of the Gloucester Daily Times A newly released book, “The Tragic Sinking of Gloucester’s Patriot” by maritime historian and retired U.S. Coast Guard Capt. W. Russell Webster, sheds light on the mysterious and sudden sinking of the fishing vessel about 15 miles east of Gloucester just after 1 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. […]
The town of Chatham and the Coast Guard have been at odds since the Coast Guard downgraded Station Chatham’s surf station designation and discontinued using two 42-foot nearshore surf boats on Jan. 5. Why the change? The Coast Guard’s own data revealed that surf conditions didn’t meet the criteria for Station Chatham to remain specially-designated […]
I was thrilled to be asked to appear on The Writer’s Block with John Ronan to discuss my upcoming book “The Tragic Sinking of Gloucester’s Patriot” (coming May 2022). You can watch my interview below, premiering February 3, 2022. John Ronan is the producer and host of The Writer’s Block with John Ronan, a television […]
How four alumni are driving FEMA’s COVID-19 recovery for New England and creating a blueprint for the rest of the nation
Captain W. Russell Webster appears on Confident Communication with Molly McPherson where he discusses the behind the scenes of the JFK Jr Plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard. Click the image below to listen to the podcast. Captain W. Russell Website is introduced at 13 minutes 50 seconds.
Captain W. Russell Webster appeared on “Nautical Talk Radio” with Captain Lou on December 9th. He discussed the “Morning Dew” tragedy, which is the subject of his next book, “Lost in Charleston’s Waves”. Listen to the complete interview below.
This story is the preamble to next month’s launch of the book. Thanks to all of you for your unwavering support. Read it here
The fatal Charleston sailboat accident that changed Coast Guard search and rescue The teen’s voice came over the radio at 2:17 a.m., a cry for help on a dark, moonless night. “May … Mayday,” a desperate plea shouted over the crackling static. “U.S. Coast Guard, come in.” The Morning Dew sailboat had crashed into one […]
For the families involved in sea tragedies, emotional closure is often facilitated by something tangible, such as the recovery of a beloved’s body. For many, though, the sea does not give up the bodies of loved ones for their families and friends to mourn in ceremonies.
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