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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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