World War II Honoree

William J. West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Paterson, New Jersey

Honored By

Robert Michael Rumsby

Relationship

Grandson

ENTERED THE SERVICE ON MAY 23, 1945 AT NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON NOVEMBER 17, 1945 AND ARRIVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON NOVEMBER 25, 1945. SERVED AS A RIFLEMAN WITH THE 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 66TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY F FROM DECEMBER 4, 1945 TO JANUARY 31, 1946; 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 14TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY FROM FEBRUARY 1, 1946 TO FEBRUARY 17, 1946; 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 14TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, C COMPANY FROM FEBRUARY 18, 1946, TO AUGUST 29, 1946; 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, C COMPANY FROM AUGUST 30, 1946 TO SEPTEMBER 27, 1946. DEPARTED THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON OCTOBER 6, 1946 AND ARRIVED BACK TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 15, 1946. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 2, 1946 AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. GUARDED GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR DURING HIS TOUR OF DUTY. AWARDED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, EXPERT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EXPERT MARKSMAN BADGE WITH MACHINE GUN QUALIFICATION BAR AND MARKSMAN BADGE WITH M1 RIFLE QUALIFICATION BAR.