Aug. 7, 1981–Oct. 12, 2000
Craig Bryan Wibberley was born on Aug. 7, 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 July 20, 1999.
After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, on Sept. 24, 1999, he was a student at Surface Warfare School Command, also in Great Lakes. He reported to USS Cole (DDG 67) on Nov. 10, 1999.
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 Oct. 12, 2000.
Seaman Apprentice Wibberley was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and the rank of seaman.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Sources: USS Cole (DDG 67) Med Cruise 2000 (Aug. 8–Nov. 3, 2000) Cruise Book in the collection of the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Navy Department Library. Awards and citations are sourced from the service member’s official military personnel file and listed in the Navy Department Awards Web Service site and may not be complete.