Ray West

Ray West (Oct. 25, 1919 – March 30, 1945) was a soldier from New River killed in World War II. He had a brother, Clarence B. West, who was also killed in the war.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Oct. 25, 1919, Ray West was the son of Henry Claborn West (1893-1978) and Clara D. Phillips (1900-1985). His siblings included Clarence B. West (1922-1944), Claude West (1924-1997), Kenneth West (1930-2015), and Evelyn Schmitz.

He was married and had a daughter, Linda Rae, who was six years old at the time of his death.

World War II

WO West enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov. 21, 1939 and was assigned to the 391st Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Armored Division. When the 1940 census was taken, he and his brother, Clarence, were stationed at Fort Knox in Hardin, Ky. He was killed on March 30, 1945. At that time, the 391st Armored Field Artillery Battalion was moving into position just south of Paderborn, Germany.

Aftermath

WO West’s body was returned to Scott County, along with his brother, Clarence, for a dual funeral at Huntsville High School that was officiated by Rev. L.M. Jeffers on Nov. 21, 1948. They were buried at Reed Cemetery in New River.

He received the Purple Heart. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.