Robert H West Obit

                                 Master Sgt. Robert H. West

Master Sgt. Robert H. West, 37, of Elyria and Fort Carson in Colorodo Springs, Colo., died Sunday, May 14, 2006, from injuries suffered in the Iraq war. He was born in Euclid and lived in Elyria, graduating from Elyria Catholic High School in 1987. He joined the U.S. Army in 1988 and served as a tank commander and a drill instructor. He was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, helping train Iraqi police officers. He died after the vehicle he was in was hit by a roadside bomb. He is survived by his wife Jeannie West of Arvada, Colo.; a daughter, Shelby West, of Arvada, Colo.; his mother, Mary Heaton of Elyria; a sister, Lisa West of Austin, Texas; 12 aunts and uncles; four niecesand nephews; and many cousins. Master Sgt. West was preceded in death by his father, Dale R. West, an Air Force veteran who died in 1970; his paternal grandparents, Robert and Hattie West; and his maternal grandparents, Hubert and Mabel Shreve. Arrangements are pending but a local memorial service will be noon Saturday at the American Legion Post 12, 393 Ohio St., Elyria. Food and refreshments will be served. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion or the memorial fund at the Elyria branch of Fifth-Third Bank to benefit Shelby

Army Master Sgt. Robert H. West, 37, was one of four soldiers killed in Baghdad when an explosive was detonated near their vehicle. West and Chief Warrant Officer John W. Engeman, 45, New York, were identified by the military. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 312th Regiment, 30th Enhanced Separate Brigade from Clinton, N.C., The Associated Press reported. West was active in sports and clubs throughout his high school career at Elyria Catholic High School and was a member of the state championship football team in 1984. He also was involved in choir, baseball and the ski club, according to Elyria Catholic attendance secretary Mary Machovina. ''He was a quiet, great kid,'' said Lou Rotunda, the high school's former freshman basketball coach. ''He was just a fantastic person.''

As of yesterday, the AP had reported 2,455 U.S. military deaths since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 1,930 have died in hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

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