My cousin, CAPT William E. West, Jr. USCG (ret.) died on August 12, 2014. As I write this in November 2014, his family just returned from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island, NY where he received, posthumously, an alumnus award for Outstanding Professional Achievement (more on these achievements later); accepted on Bill’s behalf by his son-in-law, CAPT Sean Nolan, U.S. Navy. Bill’s life has been one of service to this great country of ours. In my opinion, he was a man of great character. He also possessed a great sense of humor and drew friends from far and near to his charming personality. He was born on September 12, 1920 at “Rural Felicity,” a family farm on Drummondtown Road, south of Accomac. Later, his mother and father moved to Tasley, VA where they ran a general store. The U.S. Post Office was in the same building and his mother, Julia, was the postmistress. I remember when Bill and I were 8 and 9 years of age, he would most always have a boat of some sort in his hands – which showed where his interest lay. When Bill was in his teens, he would spend his summers at Ocean City, MD, serving as a lifeguard on the beach – the beginning of his service of guarding his fellow man. After graduating from Accomac High School in 1938 and Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA in 1940, he attended and played football for Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and the College of William and Mary. While serving in the U.S. Navy at the outset of World War II, he was accepted to and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point in 1944. Lastly, and to find his “fit” in life he joined the U.S. Coast Guard after WWII where he served for 31 years, for a total of over 38 years in the sea services. It was while Bill was serving in the Coast Guard as Captain of the Port of Jacksonville that he met and fell in love with Ann Holtsinger. They were married on May 27, 1962. A child was born from that union named Julie for her paternal grandmother, Julia West. Julie married Sean Nolan in 1995 and they have three children, Ann Marie (14), William (12), and Andrew (10). Bill adored them all. Bill’s career in the Coast Guard was marked with numerous positions of responsibility. He held the position of Commanding Officer a total of nine times, to include command of the ice breaker USCGC GLACIER. He made multiple trips to the Arctic and Antarctic. His final posting was as Commander, Coast Guard Activities Europe, Coast Guard Attaché to the Court of St. James, London, England. While in London he travelled throughout Europe and West Africa as the senior Coast Guardsman representing our nation’s maritime interests. Bill will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on December 30, 2014 with full military honors. He was a “shore boy” who had achieved so much during his lifetime. I salute you dear Bill. Your family is so very proud of you. Love, Cousin Agnes West Hancock