GEORGE H. WEBSTER, LCDR, USN
George Webster '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
George Hardy Webster
Northfield, Vermont
Born in Vermont, George was a true yankee, which meant his first love was skiing. In between skiing seasons George managed to attend Duke University for two years. He entered the Naval Academy bringing his love of skiing, dragging and eating with him. During Youngster and Firstclass year it was a hungry plebe who had to eat on his table. Since his main interest in the Academic Department was in learning rather than in working for a grade, he always just missed starring but was always in the upper half of his class. Behind his serious face was an easy going disposition which won him many warm friends and will make him a welcome addition to the Fleet.
German Club 4, 3; Plebe Crew, Varsity Wrestling 3
He was a member of the 3rd Company staff (2nd set). The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
George Hardy Webster
Northfield, Vermont
Born in Vermont, George was a true yankee, which meant his first love was skiing. In between skiing seasons George managed to attend Duke University for two years. He entered the Naval Academy bringing his love of skiing, dragging and eating with him. During Youngster and Firstclass year it was a hungry plebe who had to eat on his table. Since his main interest in the Academic Department was in learning rather than in working for a grade, he always just missed starring but was always in the upper half of his class. Behind his serious face was an easy going disposition which won him many warm friends and will make him a welcome addition to the Fleet.
German Club 4, 3; Plebe Crew, Varsity Wrestling 3
He was a member of the 3rd Company staff (2nd set). The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
George was lost on December 19, 1957 when the plane he was aboard crashed near Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania. He and his commanding officer, who was also lost, were returning to the Willow Grove Naval Air Station near Philadelphia. George was the station's "aviation cadet procurement officer." They had left from Anacostia Naval Air Station, near Washington, D.C.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In June 1938, George was elected lieutenant-governor at the Green Mountain Boys’ State held at Norwich University by the Vermont American Legion.
George graduated from Northfield High School in 1939. He was assistant business manager on the yearbook and played clarinet in the orchestra. He played basketball and baseball and was on the Schoolboy patrol. He was voted Best Athlete, Tallest, Biggest Feet, and Pessimist. The senior trip was to the world’s fair in New York City, and his parents were chaperones.
At Duke, he belonged to Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshman honorary scholastic fraternity
After graduating from the Naval Academy, George was a navigator aboard the battleship Mississippi. He later was a jet fighter pilot in Korea.
He became engaged to Marie Kingston, a John R. Powers model, in November 1944. His parents were Peter Dow Webster, a professor at Norwich University, and mother Myrtle.
George wrote a letter to the local newspaper, The News and Advertiser, Northfield, and it was published in the January 4, 1945, issue:
Ensign George Webster Says No Jap Ships Compare with Ours
U. S. S. Mississippi
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
Editor of the News:
Although we’ve been at sea for several days with no opportunity to take on mail, I know that with the next batch will come several more copies of the News. It’s followed me faithfully from Maryland through Florida to all parts of the South Pacific, and, like all men and women from Northfield, I enjoy it nearly as much as a letter from home.
Surrounded by strange people and places one finds any mention of friends a pleasure, while the brief letters from service men printed in the News are usually the only word from many friends overseas. Forrest Hammond came aboard some time ago; but by the time I was free to talk with him, he was gone. Next door to me is a man who met Anne Spencer just as he was leaving the States. I’ve met men whose fathers are from Vermont, whose uncles went to Norwich, and who remember with pleasure summers on Lake Champlain – yet never the opportunity to talk with someone from home.
We, in the navy, when we watch the infantry go ashore, feel pretty fortunate – clean sheets, fresh-water showers, dry clothes, and hot food. Naturally there is much of home that we miss, but for fighting a war our life is fairly comfortable. We’re proud of our fleet and feel sure we can take her wherever we please, even to Tokyo. So far we’ve met neither ships not [sic] planes to compare with our own, and all of the courage, conviction, and will-to-win of the enemy has been no match for the U. S. Navy.
Although there could be few gifts better chosen than the gift from the Service Mothers of Northfield to bring to mind the many pleasant memories of Vermont, still, I appreciate even more your thought and care. It was a lovely gift, and I thank you all. Also, I thank you people in Northfield for the News, wish you all a Happy New Year, and especially wish all of our other men and women in the service a very Happy New Year and a speedy return home.
George Webster, Ensign, U. S. Navy
He was survived by his wife, four children, and his parents; he is buried in Connecticut.
Photographs
From the Duke University yearbook
From The Morning Call on December 21, 1957
Related Articles
Eugene Spangler '45, Benton Decker, Jr. '45, and Louis Schmeltzer '45 were also in 3rd Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
