World War II Honoree

Joseph T. West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN OFFICER ON FEBRUARY 2, 1942. TRAINED AS A B-24 LIBERATOR PILOT AND DEPARTED THE U.S. ON JUNE 13, 1944 BOUND FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FLEW IN COMBAT THROUGH THE EASTERN MANDATES, WESTERN PACIFIC, LUZON, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, RYUKYUS, CHINA OFFENSIVE AND AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 5 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 29, 1945. ASSIGNED TO THE 2622ND ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNIT, MATHER FIELD, CALIFORNIA. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A CAPTAIN ON JANUARY 10, 1946 AT SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.