Robert D. McWethy

Thanks for being the "skipper" that you were. Lt Roger Norian USNR

My sympathy to the McWethy Family. I was born in Aurora, IL and lived there until I went to the Naval Academy. My Mom and Dad were friends with the McWethy family. There always were positive comments. God bless them all.

I was on board the U.S.S. Providence during Captain Mcwethy's tenure there. I recall him having frequent ship handling drills for junior officers. I excelled at these drills and thenceforth, as an ensign, then a LTJG, he allowed me to take the cruiser in and out of port. He had confidence in me. At the time I did not know his reputation as one of the Navy's top ship handlers, nor his record in WW II. He was a humble man. I came to the Providence after the USS New Jersey was decommissioned. He...

He was a great CO! He let me, as an ensign, take the cruiser in and out of port. He felt I was a an "excellent ship handler", per my fitness report. After learning about his legendary reputation as a great ship handler in later years, his confidence in me was appreciated moreso. I left the Navy after my obligation was done, but to this day I still tell stories about my great CO. No senior officer ever came close to him in my Navy experience. It was an honor for me, and the ship's crew, to...

Captain McWethy was my CO on the Providence (CLG-6).I am an Annapolis graduate and failed YP's (ship handling) and got a "D" on the repeat while there. An admiral commented, I recently saw on-line, that Capt. McWethy was "best ship handler he had ever known; he was one with the ship". Capt. McWethy had many ship building exercises on the Providence, and commented in my fitness report that I "exhibited on many occasions my excellent knowledge of seamanship and ship handling ability", very...

On behalf of everyone from Navy Sailing at the Academy, we offer our condolences to CAPT McWethy's family.

The program he helped build still endures in our present day Offshore Sail Training Squadron, for professional development and cruise credit. We continue to present the McWethy Award for outstanding seamanship to a 3/C Midshipman at our annual Fall Awards.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas CAPT McWethy.

Renee Mehl
Offshore Sail Training Squadron...