FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Ernest E West ~ 08 June 2025

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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.

---

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".

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!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Ernest E West ~

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[PROCON]

Good evening, Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight's Hero!

Hope all is well your way, we are hot Hot HOT but the A/C is doing it's job.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...we must remember our heroes.

Had some more sprinkles today...thankful for that. Even rained once and I could see the drops dancing on the street. Not such a good week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS)),,,hope you and Blue got some together time today.

Thankfully we’ve gotten some sprinkles and even a bit of real rain.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[left that other site]

The weather was nice today, but for some reason I just didn’t want to do anything.

I guess we all have days like that.

Tomorrow, I don’t have to bring my guitar to work, so it may end up being a “Blue” Day! :-)

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

PALO! - Llegó El Brujo - Musica Cubana Salsa Jazz Funk

LLoraras - Chanson - LLORARAS - Son Cuba Sextet - Salsa - Musique Cubaine.

Zumbale- Henry Fiol Y La Sucursal S.A. @ Salsa Y Latin Jazz Barcelona Sessions 15 enero 2012

Diego Morán - Hacha Y Machete ( Live )

Aquí Se Vino A Bailar - La Conga De Los Hoyos - Santiago De Cuba - Conga Tour

LA COMAY - Sonora Carruseles ( Salsa )

Spanish Harlem Orchestra Performs Echa Pa'lante

Descarga '73 - Daniel Diaz Y Jafet Murguia

CARBONERITO - César Vega Y Orquesta - LA CASA DE LA SALSA

PALO! - Yo Quiero Guarachar 2023 ( Live ) - Musica Cubana - Cuban Music - Salsa Cubana

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I’ve seen a few rain showers over in your direction. I hope you were lucky enough to be under at least one. They looked fairly heavy.

No rain here today, thank goodness. Tomorrow will be the opposite. I’m eyeballin’ that storm system over TX and OK because that’s coming through here tomorrow. I pray it calms down by the time it gets here.

[luvie]

Ernest E. West
September 2, 1931 - May 1, 2021
United States Army soldier
during the Korean War.
Medal of Honor recipient
for his actions on October 12, 1952
What a brave hero he was!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Saw pictures on Fox of the plane crash in Tullahoma. The first person I thought of was you. The second was SkyDancer!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Just saw your post at X and replied. LOL I missed the evening news and watched the report about it on the 10:00 news just as I pulled up your page.

I’ve seen that plane many times flying around. There’s a skydiving school at the airport and when the weather’s nice, you see several people floating down through the skies. Sad to see the plane crumpled up. It was a beauty. I’m glad no one was killed and hope the 6 in the hospital weren’t hurt too badly.

[luvie]

I too hope they weren’t injured badly. Poor plane, though. It was such a beauty for sure.

Wondered which post you’d see first. LOL!

[Beowulf9]

This Private First Class Ernest E. West was a lion.

He earned every inch of that Medal of Honor.

Thanking him for his service.

A real hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Wishing you a ‘Blue’ Day. Still sprinkling here...loving it!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, spel, and thank you for the tunes. ((HUGS))

[radu]

The plane had just taken off which helped a lot. It hadn’t gained much altitude. Things could have been much worse.

I’m back and forth. LOL Mostly over there.

[luvie]

Me, too, among other spots. Also watching a show. Barry sure has been fired up these past few days, huh.