1LT Irvin William West was born 17 Jul 1919 in Virginia possibly in Richmond. He was the only child of William Ash and Bessie May (Melius) West who were both about 32 years old when he was born. His father worked in a sawmill in White Oak, North Carolina in 1920 and was managing a mill in Aynor, South Carolina in 1930. William West died 26 Sep 1937 in an infirmary in Florence, South Carolina after he was injured by a log that unexpectedly rolled into him fracturing his skull. He was 49 years old. The family was apparently living in Grisham, South Carolina at the time. Bessie went to work in Richmond, Virginia as a housekeeper and in 1940 she was working for and living with the Woodcock family at 2307 Halifax Avenue in Richmond. Irvin graduated from Clemson University with a BS degree.
Irvin entered the army sometime in 1941. Selected for officer candidate school he had completed that training and was commissioned when he married Alice McMillan Monroe on 31 May 1942. He then reported with his wife to Camp Wolters, Texas. 1LT West was later sent to the European theater and transferred from the replacement depot to D Company 116th Infantry on 28 Jun 1944 to serve as a platoon leader. 1LT West was killed in action on 18 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, France.
1LT West was repatriated and re-interred in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, South Carolina. There is also a cenotaph at Maury Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
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