World War II Honoree

Earl E. West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Page, North Dakota

Honored By

Mark Vollmer

Relationship

Nephew

WAS WAIST GUNNER ON THE B-17 YANKEE DANDY, 8TH AIR FORCE, 91ST BOMB GROUP, 323RD BOMB SQUADRON. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION EN ROUTE TO BASE AFTER A BOMB RUN ON KASSEL, GERMANY ON JULY 30, 1943. BURIED IN THE DUTCH REFORM CEMETERY IN HOLLAND. WAS LATER MOVED TO THE ARDENNES CEMETERY IN 1946 AND WAS RETURNED TO PAGE, NORTH DAKOTA IN 1949 FOR FINAL BURIAL. ALTHOUGH HIS GUN WAS DAMAGED IN A FIGHTER ATTACK, HE MAINTAINED HIS ASSIGNMENT AND CONTINUED TO CALL OUT THE LOCATION OF GERMAN FIGHTERS UNTIL HE WAS KILLED. WENT DOWN WITH THE PLANE.