World War II Honoree

Wayne G. West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Warne, North Carolina

Honored By

Mr. Rhea Nichols Galati

Relationship

Granddaughter

MEMBER OF THE HORSE CAVALRY AND LATER THE TRANSPORTATION CORPS DURING THE WAR. INVOLVED IN THE INVASION OF ORAN, AFRICA, INVASION OF NAPLES, ITALY, AND THE INVASION OF MARSEILLES, FRANCE. AFTER VOLUNTEERING TO ACCOMPANY HIS TROOPS TO FIGHT IN THE PACIFIC, HIS SHIP WAS TWO DAYS OUT OF GIBRALTA WHEN JAPAN WAS BOMBED. WHEN THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN SURRENDERED HIS TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP WAS ONE OF THE FIRST HOME FROM EUROPE LANDING IN HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION, 1946-1949 ON OKINAWA. INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DISTANT EARLY WARNING LINE RADAR SYSTEM IN NEWFOUNDLAND.