George Lewis West was born on February 19, 1919, in Lenoir County, the only child of Grover Cleveland (1886-1961) and Ina Taylor West (1884-1969).
After working toward a major in history and commerce at ECTC, West, 23, was inducted into the Army on April 13, 1942, at Fort Bragg. As a chief engineer, West earned the rank of sergeant and was assigned to flight duty with the Army Air Force. Later the same year, on December 26, 1942, he married Gladys Louise Gaskins (1918-2002), a teacher in Ahoskie.
At age 24, West was one of 25 Army personnel who died in the horrible crash of an Army transport plane as it took off from the Maxton-Laurinburg Army Air Base in southeast N.C. on September 20, 1943. When the transport plane suddenly veered downward onto the runway, it erupted in into flames, hampering rescue efforts as the blaze consumed the wreckage.
West had spent the weekend before in LaGrange with his parents and was en route to his post in Fort Wayne, Indiana. One faculty at ECTC remembered West as “a genteel, thoughtful, and considerate person.” He was buried in LaGrange.
Sources:
- “25 Killed at Maxton Base As Huge Transport Falls.” News and Observer. September 21, 1943. P. 1.
- “Alumni In Service Honored By Flag Given To College.” Teco Echo. October 8, 1943. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37926
- “LaGrange Youth Dies In Crash.” News and Observer. September 23, 1943. P. 8.
- McInnis, Sarah. “Memorial Service Held To Honor War Dead.” Teco Echo. May 26, 1944. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37940
Related Materials
George Lewis West. Image Source: Tecoan 1939. UA50-01. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
George Lewis West’s Draft Registration Card. Image Source: U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.Ancestry.com
Citation Information
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 5/9/2022