Col. Howard B. West, age 94, of Greenwood. Howard graduated from Excelsior High School; he attended the University of Minnesota until he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 to become a pilot.
In 1941, he shipped with the 27th Bombardment Group to the Philippines and was there when the Japanese invaded the island. As a pilot with valuable experience, he was one of twenty-three pilots evacuated to Australia. From there, he flew in the Royce Raid's attempt to lift the Japanese siege of the Bataan Peninsula and also flew numerous other missions that limited Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
The exploits of his role with the bombardment group is documented in the book ‘Operation PLUM.'
On March 8, 2012, the World War II History Round Table invited him to speak about ‘Operation PLUM.' He was the last surviving member of the 27th Bombardment Group. For his service, Howard received numerous medals, including the Silver Star. After the war, he continued a thirty- year career in the U.S. Air Force, serving throughout the world, including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. While stationed at SAC Headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska, he was part of the team gathering information about the Soviet's missiles in Cuba.
In 1970, he retired and moved to the family home in Greenwood on Lake Minnetonka, saying he'd been around the world, but no place was as beautiful as this. Beginning as a young acolyte, Howard was a long-time member of Excelsior's Trinity Episcopal Church. Through membership in Minnetonka Country Club, he relished the opportunity to be an avid golfer. For the forty-two years of his retirement, he opened his Lake home to generations of family and friends. Innumerable children learned to swim and ski from his dock. His hospitality was boundless. His devotion to family, friends and country will never be forgotten.
Preceded in death by wife, Margaret; parents, Vern & Maude West and sister, Pat Anderson. Survived by children, Susan (Don) Steinegger, Jerry (Deb) West, Rich (Cece) West, Tom (Carl Foote) West, Mary Hanson and Sally West (Gaylan Hardel); grandchildren, Cathleen and Carolmarie Steinegger, Spencer and Matthew West, Jessje (Lara) West, Paul, Lauren and Molly Hanson; brother, Douglas (Ginny) West; nieces & nephews.
Funeral service Wed., Feb. 6, 2013 at 11 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 322 2nd St., Excelsior (952- 474-5263). Visitation Tuesday, 4-7 PM at Huber Funeral Home, 520 2nd St., Excelsior. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment with honors at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to American Cancer Society.
Obituary & photos published on the Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel website.
In 1941, he shipped with the 27th Bombardment Group to the Philippines and was there when the Japanese invaded the island. As a pilot with valuable experience, he was one of twenty-three pilots evacuated to Australia. From there, he flew in the Royce Raid's attempt to lift the Japanese siege of the Bataan Peninsula and also flew numerous other missions that limited Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
The exploits of his role with the bombardment group is documented in the book ‘Operation PLUM.'
On March 8, 2012, the World War II History Round Table invited him to speak about ‘Operation PLUM.' He was the last surviving member of the 27th Bombardment Group. For his service, Howard received numerous medals, including the Silver Star. After the war, he continued a thirty- year career in the U.S. Air Force, serving throughout the world, including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. While stationed at SAC Headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska, he was part of the team gathering information about the Soviet's missiles in Cuba.
In 1970, he retired and moved to the family home in Greenwood on Lake Minnetonka, saying he'd been around the world, but no place was as beautiful as this. Beginning as a young acolyte, Howard was a long-time member of Excelsior's Trinity Episcopal Church. Through membership in Minnetonka Country Club, he relished the opportunity to be an avid golfer. For the forty-two years of his retirement, he opened his Lake home to generations of family and friends. Innumerable children learned to swim and ski from his dock. His hospitality was boundless. His devotion to family, friends and country will never be forgotten.
Preceded in death by wife, Margaret; parents, Vern & Maude West and sister, Pat Anderson. Survived by children, Susan (Don) Steinegger, Jerry (Deb) West, Rich (Cece) West, Tom (Carl Foote) West, Mary Hanson and Sally West (Gaylan Hardel); grandchildren, Cathleen and Carolmarie Steinegger, Spencer and Matthew West, Jessje (Lara) West, Paul, Lauren and Molly Hanson; brother, Douglas (Ginny) West; nieces & nephews.
Funeral service Wed., Feb. 6, 2013 at 11 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 322 2nd St., Excelsior (952- 474-5263). Visitation Tuesday, 4-7 PM at Huber Funeral Home, 520 2nd St., Excelsior. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment with honors at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to American Cancer Society.
Obituary & photos published on the Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel website.
Col. Howard B. West, age 94, of Greenwood. Howard graduated from Excelsior High School; he attended the University of Minnesota until he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 to become a pilot.
In 1941, he shipped with the 27th Bombardment Group to the Philippines and was there when the Japanese invaded the island. As a pilot with valuable experience, he was one of twenty-three pilots evacuated to Australia. From there, he flew in the Royce Raid's attempt to lift the Japanese siege of the Bataan Peninsula and also flew numerous other missions that limited Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
The exploits of his role with the bombardment group is documented in the book ‘Operation PLUM.'
On March 8, 2012, the World War II History Round Table invited him to speak about ‘Operation PLUM.' He was the last surviving member of the 27th Bombardment Group. For his service, Howard received numerous medals, including the Silver Star. After the war, he continued a thirty- year career in the U.S. Air Force, serving throughout the world, including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. While stationed at SAC Headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska, he was part of the team gathering information about the Soviet's missiles in Cuba.
In 1970, he retired and moved to the family home in Greenwood on Lake Minnetonka, saying he'd been around the world, but no place was as beautiful as this. Beginning as a young acolyte, Howard was a long-time member of Excelsior's Trinity Episcopal Church. Through membership in Minnetonka Country Club, he relished the opportunity to be an avid golfer. For the forty-two years of his retirement, he opened his Lake home to generations of family and friends. Innumerable children learned to swim and ski from his dock. His hospitality was boundless. His devotion to family, friends and country will never be forgotten.
Preceded in death by wife, Margaret; parents, Vern & Maude West and sister, Pat Anderson. Survived by children, Susan (Don) Steinegger, Jerry (Deb) West, Rich (Cece) West, Tom (Carl Foote) West, Mary Hanson and Sally West (Gaylan Hardel); grandchildren, Cathleen and Carolmarie Steinegger, Spencer and Matthew West, Jessje (Lara) West, Paul, Lauren and Molly Hanson; brother, Douglas (Ginny) West; nieces & nephews.
Funeral service Wed., Feb. 6, 2013 at 11 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 322 2nd St., Excelsior (952- 474-5263). Visitation Tuesday, 4-7 PM at Huber Funeral Home, 520 2nd St., Excelsior. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment with honors at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to American Cancer Society.
Obituary & photos published on the Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel website.
In 1941, he shipped with the 27th Bombardment Group to the Philippines and was there when the Japanese invaded the island. As a pilot with valuable experience, he was one of twenty-three pilots evacuated to Australia. From there, he flew in the Royce Raid's attempt to lift the Japanese siege of the Bataan Peninsula and also flew numerous other missions that limited Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
The exploits of his role with the bombardment group is documented in the book ‘Operation PLUM.'
On March 8, 2012, the World War II History Round Table invited him to speak about ‘Operation PLUM.' He was the last surviving member of the 27th Bombardment Group. For his service, Howard received numerous medals, including the Silver Star. After the war, he continued a thirty- year career in the U.S. Air Force, serving throughout the world, including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. While stationed at SAC Headquarters in Bellevue, Nebraska, he was part of the team gathering information about the Soviet's missiles in Cuba.
In 1970, he retired and moved to the family home in Greenwood on Lake Minnetonka, saying he'd been around the world, but no place was as beautiful as this. Beginning as a young acolyte, Howard was a long-time member of Excelsior's Trinity Episcopal Church. Through membership in Minnetonka Country Club, he relished the opportunity to be an avid golfer. For the forty-two years of his retirement, he opened his Lake home to generations of family and friends. Innumerable children learned to swim and ski from his dock. His hospitality was boundless. His devotion to family, friends and country will never be forgotten.
Preceded in death by wife, Margaret; parents, Vern & Maude West and sister, Pat Anderson. Survived by children, Susan (Don) Steinegger, Jerry (Deb) West, Rich (Cece) West, Tom (Carl Foote) West, Mary Hanson and Sally West (Gaylan Hardel); grandchildren, Cathleen and Carolmarie Steinegger, Spencer and Matthew West, Jessje (Lara) West, Paul, Lauren and Molly Hanson; brother, Douglas (Ginny) West; nieces & nephews.
Funeral service Wed., Feb. 6, 2013 at 11 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 322 2nd St., Excelsior (952- 474-5263). Visitation Tuesday, 4-7 PM at Huber Funeral Home, 520 2nd St., Excelsior. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment with honors at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to American Cancer Society.
Obituary & photos published on the Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel website.
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