World War II Honoree

Raymond R. West

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 16, 1942 at Seattle, Washington. Following his Basic Military Training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California and infantry training at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California. And along with any additional training; he was deployed to the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the “Battle-of-Kwajalein” an amphibious assault, against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces Location: Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands. He served in Company Kilo as a Rifleman, assigned to the Third Battalion, Twenty Fifth Marines and an element of the Fourth Marine Division. Tuesday, February 1, 1944 he was fatally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the United States Armed Forces Battlefield cemetery, located on Ivan Island, Kwajalein Atoll. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, with interment January 28, 1949 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.