Retired Captain William E. West, Jr, former Commander Coast Guard Activities Europe and a veteran of World War II, died 12 August, 2014, in Annapolis, Maryland.

West, a native of Accomack County, Virginia and the son of William E. West, Sr., and Julia Evans West, was born on September 12, 1920. He was a 1944 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

Captain William E. West’s entire life in the maritime services, both at sea and on land, was punctuated with events of success. From preparing to go to war, his training at Kings Point, to his service and numerous commands at sea, CAPT West dedicated his life to the service of his country.

CAPT West entered Kings Point in the fall of 1942 as a U.S. Navy Third Class Petty Officer and a qualified gun crew captain. In December 1942, as a cadet midshipman, he was assigned to the S/S CARTAGO. CAPT West thrived at sea and fought in the Battle of the Atlantic aboard the CARTAGO. During his second convoy run as part of SC-122, then Cadet Midshipman West sighted a periscope 500 feet off CARTAGO’s port beam. After alerting the mate, who then sounded general quarters, CAPT West sighted the wake of an incoming torpedo. The torpedo missed CARTAGO by 10-20 feet, but unfortunately struck the Panamanian ship GRANVILLE. Most of the crew was rescued by an escort, to include the ship’s dog. CAPT West would later learn that the submarine was the U-338 and that CARTAGO was the original target. U-338 claimed at least five ships from SC-122 and also shot down a bomber in the Bay of Biscay.

By August 1943, just eight short months after leaving Kings Point, CAPT West returned, having completed three convoy runs delivering bombs and supplies vital to the war. Port calls included Iceland, Scotland, and Wales.

After seven additional months at Kings Point, CAPT West graduated, obtained his third mate’s license and was commissioned as an Ensign. Soon thereafter, he joined the USS WINSLOW (DD359), a Porter-class destroyer out of Boston, Massachusetts. Onboard WINSLOW, CAPT West participated in additional convoys, carrier escort duties, and started the transfer to the Pacific when the war ended.

In the summer of 1946, CAPT West left the Navy as a Lieutenant (junior grade) and sailed aboard ships operated by Standard Oil and the United Fruit Company. In less than two years CAPT West was sailing as a Chief Mate.

While excelling as a merchant sailor, CAPT West missed the Navy and returned to serve onboard the USS PRESIDENT ADAMS as Gunnery Officer. A year later, in the summer of 1949, CAPT West sought out additional challenges and accepted a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard, eventually being assigned to the USCGC INGHAM. This was the start of a stellar 31 year career in the United States Coast Guard.

As noted earlier, CAPT West thrived at sea from his first days as a cadet midshipman. His career in the Coast Guard was no different. In less than five years after being commissioned in the Coast Guard, CAPT West had served in four different ships and was on his second executive officer (XO) tour which was aboard the Coast Guard Destroyer Escort NEWELL.

Although not required by the Coast Guard, CAPT West obtained his unlimited Master Mariner’s license. This demonstrated CAPT West’s leadership by example and would serve him well in future assignments.

CAPT West's first command was the USCGC TRITON in Corpus Christi, TX. This was less than six years after being commissioned in the Coast Guard. This would be the first of many commands.

Due to his incredible leadership ability, every assignment for the next 26 years would be either a command or executive officer position either afloat or ashore. A chronological list follows:

1978-80 Commander, Coast Guard Activities Europe, Coast Guard Attaché to the Court of St. James, London, England

1976-78 Chief of Staff, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, FL

1974-76 Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Support Center, Kodiak, AK

1972-74 Commanding Officer, USCGC GLACIER (at the time the largest and most powerful icebreaker in the Free World), Command of the Ross Sea Ship Group, (4 Polar Missions, Arctic(2) and Antarctic(2) deployments)

1970-72 Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Station/Capt of the Port, Houston TX

1966-70 Executive Officer, Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, NJ

1964-66 Executive Officer, USCGC EASTWIND (3 Polar Missions, Arctic(1) and Antarctic(2) deployments)

1961-64 Commanding Officer, COTP Station/Captain of the Port of Jacksonville, FL

1958-61 Commanding Officer, USCGC SORREL (Pacific)

1957-58 Commanding Officer, USCGC FIREBUSH (Atlantic)

1955-57 Commanding Officer, USCGC TRITON (Gulf of Mexico)

While in Europe, CAPT West was Coast Guard Attaché to the Court of St. James on the staff of U.S. Ambassador Kingman Brewster. As the senior Coast Guardsman in Europe, he was fortunate to engage and be hosted by members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He was thoroughly impressed by the organization, its professionalism and he always spoke fondly of the RNLI and its capabilities.

Returning to the Eastern Shore of Virginia upon retirement, after nearly 38 years in the sea services, Captain West resided with his family at Rural Felicity, the family farm and his birthplace, in Accomac, Virginia.

Even in retirement he continued his service to others. He volunteered at the local nursing home, led the Boy Scouts, was chairman of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the Diabetes Association. He raised money to create a plaque with the names of the local servicemen killed in action in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and organized Memorial Day Services in Accomack County. He was elected to the Accomack County Board of Supervisors. At the young age of eighty, Bill received a new mountain bike since he had worn out his previous one. He enjoyed taking classes at the Eastern Shore Community College, attended Elder Hostels with his wife Ann, and relished in the quiet life on the farm punctuated by frequent visits to Annapolis, Maryland to see Julie, Sean, and his three grandchildren.

Bill always remained active with in his Alma Mater, Kings Point. He participated in Alumni events, encouraged students to apply to Kings Point, corresponded with the Kings Point leadership, and at 93 still met with cadet midshipmen.

His passion for reading, especially history and seafaring books, continued up until a few days before his death. He loved life and was thankful to God for his many blessings to include his family, his friends, and the sea.

He was a member of the Naval Historical Foundation, Naval Institute, The Nautical Institute of the United Kingdom, Antarctica Society and Polar Society.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Holtsinger West of Rural Felicity, Accomac, Virginia and of Annapolis, Maryland, one daughter, Julie Ann West and her husband CAPT Sean Nolan, USN, of Annapolis, Maryland, grandchildren Ann Marie Nolan, William Nolan and Andrew Nolan, and a sister, Lois West Gibbs of Richmond, Virginia.

A funeral service and burial was held in Arlington National Cemetery will full military honors on 30 December 2014. Captain West requested donations be made to Royal National Lifeboat Institution in lieu of flowers.