World War II Honoree

Hugh Lee West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

El Toro, California

Honored By

M. Steven West

Relationship

Son

HE SERVED FROM NOVEMBER 1941 THROUGH OCTOBER 1945 IN COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 4TH UNITED STATES INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA; ADVANCED AND ARCTIC TRAINING AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, THEN STATIONED AT FORT RICHARDSON, ALASKA. HE SERVED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA CAMPAIGN INCLUDING ADAK AMCHITKA, ATTU ISLANDS. IN MARCH 1943 HE WAS CITED FOR 'EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE' IN OPERATION CROWBAR. HE LANDED ON ATTU ISLAND ON MAY 17, 1943. DURING THE BATTLE OF ATTU, HIS UNIT WAS INVOLVED IN CAPTURING CLEVESY PASS AND FISH HOOK RIDGE. AFTER RETURNING TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON FROM THE ALEUTIANS IN NOVEMBER 1943, HIS UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST INFANTRY TRAINING COMPANY SCHOOL TROOPS INFANTRY SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL DISCHARGED IN 1945. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR AND ONE BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN OCTOBER 1945.