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Topic: Welford H West torpedo man 1/C: last Patrol |
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TheBridge
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 12:27pm
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Welford West, Torpdoman 1/C of the PT157, left us this morning after a brief illness near his home in Hampton Virginia. He was surrounded family, sons Glen and Dennis, daughter Beverly and the grandchildren; one of which came in from his US Navy assignment far overseas to say goodbye.
It was while I was building a model of the PT-157 I found and had conversations with Welford. On hearing the accounts of the 157's missions, I was compelled to start a book to capture these accounts in a collaborative book along with the now last remaining plank crewmen of the 157; Skipper William 'Bud' Liebenow.
From our book here is a tiny fraction of Welford was about. What he was will always be some much more to those who knew him.
Welford H. West. After having served in the U.S. Merchant Marines for one year, West joined the U. S. Navy in November 1942. Prior to this, West worked on torpedoes at the U.S. Naval Munitions facility in nearby Yorktown, Virginia. When he entered the Navy he carried a letter of recommendation from the Yorktown facility’s Commander Roach, and was given the rank of Petty Office 3rd Class while in boot camp.
Welford had grown up in the tidewater area of Virginia, and helped his father who was a local oyster fisherman. Combined with West’s seaman training in the Merchant Marines, he would provide critical advantages to the PT-157 in knowledge of sea and boat operations as we’ll see on the missions. For example, he knew how to run a lead line and could stand on the bow of the 157 calling out the depth readings to Skipper Liebenow or scan the water ahead for ‘shallows’ created by sandbars or coral or see ‘coconut logs’ well before others spotted them. These logs could severely damage a PT’s prop and/or prop shafts especially when navigating into shore for personnel drop-offs/pick-ups such the PT-157 frequently did.
Although his formal crew position was as torpedo man of the 157, he frequently was the helmsman and when not at the helm at the antennae mast as lookout. He also operated the smoke generator and later manned the 157’s first .38-cal gun when it was installed. West served almost 18-months on the 157 which was twice as long as was the general rule due to the wear and tear on his body riding PTs for that length of time. After being transfered stateside, Welford was an instructor at the torpedo training school in Melville, Rhode Island.
Welford now joins his wife Rita and the rest of the PT shipmates. May they cruise towards the sunset and feel the warmth on their faces.
Bridge |
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Roy Forbes
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 12:33pm
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This was such sad news today. It was such an honor meeting Welford last year. A true Hero from the Greatest generation. Rest in Peace my friend and our prayers to all his family.
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 3:42pm
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Bridge;
Roy is right this is sad news. May he enjoy the warm rays and the salt air, as he once again takes the wheel of PT 157, and idles away from the pier, and gradually move the throttles ahead and steers 157 towards the sunset.
TED
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Frank Andruss
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 4:24pm
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As I wrote to you earlier Bridge, this is such sad News. It always pains my heart when one of our PT BOAT VETS makes his last patrol. May he rest in Piece, being at the gates of Heaven with PT-157 docked there waiting for him to come on board.
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Frank Andruss
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 4:24pm
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As I wrote to you earlier Bridge, this is such sad News. It always pains my heart when one of our PT BOAT VETS makes his last patrol. May he rest in Piece, being at the gates of Heaven with PT-157 docked there waiting for him to come on board.
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 5:05pm
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Rest in peace Welford, thank you for putting yourself in harms way to protect our country.
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earl
MASTER
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 5:52pm
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please pass on my condolences to his familly.
earl
earl richmond |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 6:09pm
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Gentleman;
Welford's information can be found here: http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2461676&fh_id=13835
TED
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 8:36pm
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Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark.
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.
- Tennyson, "Crossing the Bar."
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Will Day
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Posted on: Mar 25, 2014 - 10:20pm
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FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS, WELFORD.....
Will |
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