SN CRAIG BRYAN WIBBERLEY-PATHFINDERS DIVISION
Frederick, Maryland
SN Craig Bryan Wibberley
"Determined Warrior"
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Our unit is named in honor of SN Craig Bryan Wibberley from Williamsport, Maryland who perished in the attack on the USS Cole on 12 October 2000.
Craig Bryan Wibberley was born on 7 August 1981, in Hagerstown, Maryland, to Thomas and Patricia Wibberley. He graduated from Washington County Technical High School and Williamsport High School in 1999, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 20, July 1999.
After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, on 24 September 1999, he was a student at Surface Warfare School Command, also in Great Lakes. He reported to USS Cole (DDG-67) on 10 November 1999.
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Wibberley was killed in the line of duty, when a terrorist bomb was detonated along the port side of the ship, while it was refueling in Aden, Yemen, on 12 October 2000.
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Seaman Apprentice Wibberley was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of Seaman.
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The Craig Bryan Wibberley Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to honor SN Wibberley, this appointed scholarship goes to students at Washington County Technical High School pursuing a computer-related field of study in college. For more information on this scholarship please contact us on this website to be further directed.
As of 15 NOV 2020 the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit in Frederick, MD that was formerly known as Matthew Fontaine Maury-Pathfinders Division was renamed in the honor of SN Craig Wibberley, bringing a lasting impact on the future of the areas youth.
At 1118 on the morning of October 12, 2000, as USS COLE (DDG 67) was refueling in Aden Harbor, Yemen, suicide bombers detonated an explosive-laden boat directly against the port side of the ship. The resulting blast killed 17 Sailors, wounded 37 others, and tore a hole forty by sixty feet in the ship's hull. In the aftermath of the explosion, the crew of USS COLE fought tirelessly to free shipmates trapped by the twisted wreckage and limit flooding that threatened to sink their ship. The crew's prompt actions to isolate damaged electrical systems and contain fuel oil ruptures prevented catastrophic fires that could have engulfed the ship and cost the lives of countless men and women. Skillful first aid and advanced medical treatment applied by the crew prevented additional death and eased the suffering of many others. Drawing upon their Navy training and discipline, the crew heroically conducted more than 96 hours of sustained damage control in conditions of extreme heat and stress. Deprived of sleep, food and shelter, they vigilantly battled to preserve a secure perimeter and restore stability to engineering systems that were vital to the ship's survival. By their sacrifice and bravery in the face of daunting adversity, the crew of USS COLE personified Honor, Courage, and Commitment. (USS COLE Memorial Dedicated October 12, 2001)
The USS COLE Memorial dedication ceremony was conducted at Naval Station Norfolk Virginia on October 12, 2001 commemorating the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack in Aden, Yemen. The Memorial honors the 17 sailors who lost their lives and the crew for their heroic actions to save the ship.
