Beaufort’s Ron West, 80, joined the United States Marine Corps in Atlanta in 1963. After Boot Camp at Parris Island, he trained at Montfort Point, N.C., in communications. His first assignment was at Camp Lejeune from which he deployed to Panama in 1964 during the Panama Crisis, and later to Spain in
support of NATO.
His next assignment for three years was to Naval Facility Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. He next served near Chu Lai, Vietnam at the communications center. He returned to Parris Island for 2 ½ years working in communications before attending the Staff NCO Academy on the way to a three-year assignment in the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. He then was assigned to the communications center on Okinawa for more than a year.
He returned to duty in Beaufort at MCAS Beaufort before beginning a lengthy series of assignments in recruiting duty, first in Charleston then in Marietta, Ga. He retired in 1985 as a Master Sergeant with 22 years of active service. In 2012 he moved to Sun City and became the chaplain of the Marine Corps League Association chapter here. He also served for 10 years in a jail ministry in Georgia. He is also a member of AMVETS and the DAV.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
