- Date Of Birth: February 23, 1923
- Date Of Death: January 23, 2007
- State: Arizona
STERLING CLAYTON WEST, JR. was born February 23, 1923 in La Junta, Colorado, to Sterling C. West and Margrete Miller West.
The first big event in his life took place at the age of eighteen when Sterling married Dorothy Mae Gearheart and then graduated from La Junta High School. He hired-out as an apprentice electrician with the Santa Fe Railroad.
The next big event came with World War II. He obtained a commission to the Navy, but because of his job, was deferred. However, when the big push in the South Pacific came, in 1944, he was drafted in the Army! Sterling left his young family and became a part of the 32nd, “Red Arrow,” Infantry Division, and proudly served with it in the Pacific. When the Imperial Japanese Army destroyed the base where he was stationed, he and the other surviving soldiers fought against the enemy using guerrilla warfare tactics from their hidden positions in the jungle. He was instrumental in the capture of the “most wanted” General Yamashita on the Villa Verde Trail.
Months later, they were rescued and were sailing for Japan. Their cruiser came under heavy enemy fire and lost all electrical power—they were sitting ducks! Sterling was the only one on board who was able to repair the damage and was later awarded the bronze star for his work which enabled the crippled ship to reach its destination safely. Then, when Japan surrendered, Sterling was a part of a special team of 80 soldiers who marched into Nagasaki, just two weeks after the nuclear destruction of the city! He established communication lines and transportation routes for US troops entering the city.
Another big event in his life was his return to his family in La Junta and his career with the Santa Fe Railway. During this period, Sterling advanced rapidly within the Santa Fe system, becoming a multi-talented, trouble-shooting expert. He also found time to father six truly great children: Patsy, Polly, PAMELA, Peggy, Sterling, and Penny.
In 1963, Sterling moved with his family to Winslow, Arizona, where he served as “Diesel-engine Doctor” and later, as Round House Foreman. In 1968, he was hand-selected for the team that designed and built the first diesel engine simulator: a device used to train the engineers. He retired from the Santa Fe in 1983, having served over forty years.
Sterling was a man of Faith, commitment, temperance, and moral courage. He loved his wife, Dorothy, thoroughly, and his children were his absolute delight. While he had many interests: hunting, fishing, and ham-radio operator, studying and sharing the Word of God was most important to him. He was VERY proud to be a GIDEON. He firmly supported citizen’s second amendment rights. He was admired and loved by all who knew him.
Sterling leaves behind the families of his six children: Pat and Frank Gum of Buchanan, Michigan; Polly and Martin Vigil, of Flagstaff, Arizona; Pamela and Stephen Gerton of Winslow, Arizona; Peggy and Stephen Wade of Madison, Alabama; Sterling (Buddy) and Sally West of Cedaridge, Colorado; and Penny West and grandson, Sterling West, of Winslow, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his life-long love, Dorothy, and two grand children: Jonathan and Rachael Wade.
