FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Ernest E West ~ 11 July 2022

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Ernest E. West
All info and photos from this website

           

Ernest E. West (September 2, 1931 - May 1, 2021) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 12, 1952.

He was raised in an orphanage at the Methodist Children's Home in Versailles, Kentucky. He returned to visit the home a few years after receiving the Medal of Honor.

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On October 12, West was one of sixteen Americans who volunteered for a mission to try to capture some of the enemy for interrogation. Moving as silently as possible through a valley separating the U.S. and Chinese positions, they came to a rise leading up to the enemy bunkers.  Half of the group stayed behind with machine guns. The others began to climb up toward the enemy, with West walking ahead as the point man. Suddenly the Chinese began to roll grenades down onto them. One passed between West’s legs and exploded near his lieutenant, who was just behind him. Two other Americans also went down. Realizing that his contingent had walked into an ambush, West ordered those who were not hurt to retreat. Then he ran through heavy small-arms fire and exploding grenades to his lieutenant, who was badly hurt. Using his body to shield the helpless officer from flying shrapnel, West picked him up and started down the hill. Four enemy soldiers came at him, but he killed them with his rifle. West made it back to the U.S. position with the lieutenant, then returned for another wounded American, killing eight more of the enemy along the way. As he dragged the second man to safety, a grenade exploded near him, deadening his left arm and sending shrapnel into his eye. Bleeding heavily, West returned for another wounded comrade and got him down the hill.

West spent the next ten months in the hospital, most of it at Walter Reed. Doctors tried to save his eye by positioning a large powerful magnet over it to draw out the shrapnel, but the procedure didn’t work and the eye had to be removed. Finally released from the service, West returned to Kentucky. It was hard for him not to feel that he was still at war. On his first day back at his old job on the railroad, a co-worker came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. West instinctively turned and wrestled the man down. He quickly apologized: “Sorry, but you’ll have to give me a month or so. Just talk to me, don’t touch me.”

Early in 1954, West got a telegram informing him that he was to receive the Medal of Honor. His railroad arranged to make a special stop in his hometown of Russell, where he boarded a private car that carried him to Washington, D.C. After putting the medal around his neck on January 12, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower said to West, “In addition to this decoration, you have an old soldier’s admiration."

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Citation

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Sataeri, Korea, October 12, 1952

Entered service at: Wurtland Ky. Born: September 2, 1931, Russell, Kentucky

G.O. No.: 7, January 29, i954

Citation:

Pfc. West distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He voluntarily accompanied a contingent to locate and destroy a reported enemy outpost. Nearing the objective, the patrol was ambushed and suffered numerous casualties. Observing his wounded leader lying in an exposed position, Pfc. West ordered the troops to withdraw, then braved intense fire to reach and assist him. While attempting evacuation, he was attacked by 3 hostile soldiers employing grenades and small-arms fire. Quickly shifting his body to shelter the officer, he killed the assailants with his rifle, then carried the helpless man to safety. He was critically wounded and lost an eye in this action. but courageously returned through withering fire and bursting shells to assist the wounded. While evacuating 2 comrades, he closed with and killed 3 more of the foe. Pfc. West's indomitable spirit, consummate valor, and intrepid actions inspired all who observed him, reflect the highest credit on himself, and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!                                                 

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Monday,
July 11, 2022

True Freedom

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24

While reading on the train, Meiling was busy highlighting sentences and jotting down notes in the margins of her book. But a conversation between a mother and child seated nearby stopped her. The mom was correcting her child for doodling in her library book. Meiling quickly put her pen away, not wanting the toddler to ignore her mother’s words by following Meiling’s example. She knew that the child wouldn’t understand the difference between damaging a loaned book and making notes in one you owned.

Meiling’s actions reminded me of the apostle Paul’s inspired words in 1 Corinthians 10:23–24: “ ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”

The believers in Jesus in the young church in Corinth saw their freedom in Christ as an opportunity to pursue personal interests. But Paul wrote that they should view it as an opportunity to benefit and build up others. He taught them that true freedom isn’t the right to do as one pleases, but the liberty to do as they should for God.

We follow in Jesus’ footsteps when we use our freedom to choose building others up instead of serving ourselves. — Poh Fang Chia

Why does it honor God when you’re careful in what you say and do around others? How can you be more considerate of others in the exercise of your freedom?

Jesus, thank You for setting me free. Give me wisdom and grace to exercise my freedom in ways that truly honor You and bless others.

Bible in a year: Psalms 1–3; Acts 17:1–15

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Ernest E West ~

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[lightman]

Thank you for keeping these heroes’ stories before us!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Are you rested and ready to take on the new week?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

Sorry I’m Late.

[left that other site]

Actually...not as late as i thought! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...you are most welcome.

Ready for the new week?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...not late at all. Did you and Tippy get in a good walk sticking to the sidewalks? How are lessons coming along?

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, good but hot week coming up, but it’s summer and welcome, have a great week!

[luvie]

Ernest E. West
September 2, 1931 - May 1, 2021
United States Army - Korean War.
Medal of Honor Recipient
for his actions on October 12, 1952.
What a hero he was!
Josh Groban~Brave

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Mayor!!

1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

2nd!!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Did you get some more rain...and/or a break in the heat? Texas is sizzling! My brother said their “feel like” temp at 5:30pm was 117. If this is what hell feels like, I’m gonna have to be a nicer person.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Have you managed to squeeze in a little downtime this weekend or have you stayed busy getting ready for the work week?

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

There was another .05 of an inch in the gauge when I woke up so the sky must have dripped a little while I slept.

It was cooler today but still steamy until the front finally moved through this afternoon. The air was noticeably drier once the clouds moved out. But the heat comes back tomorrow. Just not as steamy as last week.

UGH!! Our heat index Friday was 108 and I couldn’t stand to be outside for more than a minute. I can’t imagine how bad 117 feels. Your brother has my sympathies.

[Kathy in Alaska]

lightman!!

3rd!!