World War II Honoree

Charles Edward West

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sacramento, California

Honored By

Sue Sharman

Relationship

Daughter

Sergeant West was a Japanese Prisoner of War for 42 months. Prior to his capture, he served with the Headquarters Squadron, 5th Air Base Group, Del Monte Air Base, Mindanao Island Philippines. When the Allied Forces surrendered he was taken prisoner and detained at the Davno Penal Colony Prison Camp. Later he was shipped to Manila on a 'Hell Ship' and detained at Cabauatan Penal Camp. From Manila he was put on another 'Hell Ship' and transported to Honshu Island, Japan where he worked as a forced laborer in a steel mill until his liberation. Awards include the Bronze Star Medal, POW Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Philippine Defense Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Philippine Independence Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Award Medal.