12/07/2025
DWAYNE WEBSTER - PEARL HARBOR
Dwayne Webster was just 17 years old when he set his heart on joining the Navy to see the world. There was only one obstacle: he was too young to enlist without his parents’ consent. After many attempts to convince them, his father finally relented and signed the enlistment papers. On December 7, 1940, Dwayne left home for boot camp, full of hope and excitement for the future.
Exactly one year later, December 7, 1941, Dwayne was killed aboard the USS Arizona when a Japanese bomb struck the ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was one of 1,177 sailors and Marines who perished in a matter of minutes.
In the chaotic weeks that followed the attack, families across the country waited in anguish for news. The Websters were no different. With communication in shambles, they had no idea what had happened to their son. Their first telegram from the government listed Dwayne as missing in action, leaving them clinging to hope.
That hope flickered even brighter when Dwayne’s mother received a package from him, a Christmas gift of silverware.. For a moment, it felt like a sign he might still be alive. Sadly though, he had mailed the package on December 6th.
But in February 1942, the dreaded second telegram arrived, confirming what the family feared most: Dwayne had been killed during the attack. Decades later, Dwayne’s sister said their father never forgave himself for signing those enlistment papers.
Dwayne Webster became Loveland’s first casualty of World War II. Today, Dwayne Webster Veterans Memorial Park bears his name. The next time you visit the park, take a moment to remember this young man, barely 18, who gave his life in service to our country. And if your children or grandchildren are with you, please share Dwayne’s story with them, so his sacrifice is never forgotten.