[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 80 (Monday, May 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2409-S2410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING ERNIE WEST

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Bluegrass State is home to many 
heroes. For centuries, brave Kentuckians have proudly worn the uniform 
to defend our country and our way of life. Earlier this month, we said 
goodbye to one of these remarkable individuals. Ernie West, of Greenup 
County, was recognized in 1954 for his courage in the Korean war with 
our country's top military recognition, the Medal of Honor. He inspired 
those who knew him and became an example of our Commonwealth's highest 
ideals. Today, I would like to join Ernie's admirers in paying tribute 
to his incredible life and offering condolences to his family.
  For Ernie, who came from humble beginnings in a children's home, 
putting his fellow soldiers' safety before his own was practically 
second nature. During a patrol, his squad was ambushed by North Korean 
fighters. Ernie sprang into action, braving enemy grenades and intense 
fire to carry three wounded comrades to safety. As he did, the young 
private suffered serious wounds, including taking shrapnel that 
eventually cost him his eye.
  After the war, President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented Ernie with 
the Medal of Honor in recognition of his valor and selfless sacrifice. 
Ernie never considered himself a hero and almost refused to accept the 
medal. He believed everyone who served with him was deserving of the 
same honor. In the years that followed, Ernie became a proud example of 
service to a cause larger than oneself. Kentucky was grateful to have 
this hero among us for so many years, and we will all miss him.
  Mr. President, the Daily Independent in nearby Ashland paid tribute 
to Ernie West and his heroism. I ask unanimous consent the article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From Daily Independent, May 2, 2021]

                    A Hero's Legacy: West Dies at 89

                          (By Charles Romans)

       A young boy came home one day to find his father talking to 
     a man he did not know. His father's companion was rather 
     ordinary, the young boy remembered, and appeared to be just 
     like any of his neighbors he saw on a daily basis. But the 
     father spoke up and said, ``Do you know this man? He's a war 
     hero.'' Those words changed the young boy's opinion of the 
     man, and he became fascinated with learning the man's story. 
     But the man just smiled and quickly changed the subject, 
     asking the young boy instead where he liked to fish.
       The young boy was Tom Clay, of Greenup, and the man his 
     father (well-known writer and community activist Soc Clay) 
     introduced him to was Ernest ``Ernie'' West. Clay remembers 
     West as being a plainspeaking and easygoing man, and not at 
     all what one might expect from a war hero. Clay said you'd 
     expect a war hero to be larger than life, big and bold, but 
     West wasn't any of those things.
       ``He was just a normal guy,'' Clay said. ``One of the 
     neighbors who really liked to fish.'' But even though West 
     was hesitant to speak of it, Clay would later learn that West 
     was not only a hero, but also a hero to whom other heroes 
     looked as the very definition of the word. West died on 
     Saturday at age 89.
       The man who talked so readily about fishing at the Clay 
     home was a Greenup County native himself. He was born on 
     Sept. 2, 1931 in Russell and raised in an orphanage at the 
     Methodist Children's Home in Versailles.

[[Page S2410]]

     West lived in Wurtland and worked on what is now CSX 
     Railroad. He was drafted in 1950, and in October 1952 he was 
     serving as private first class with Company L, 14th Infantry 
     Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in Korea. During a patrol, 
     West's unit was ambushed and took heavy casualties.
       Unit commander Captain George Gividen was seriously 
     wounded, and West ordered those not wounded to retreat from 
     the enemy's larger force. West himself, however, didn't 
     retreat, but instead repeatedly faced a hailstorm of enemy 
     fire and grenades to rescue the wounded members of his unit 
     and carry them to safety. And in numerous cases, West faced 
     not only area fire but personal attacks as well while 
     rescuing his comrades. At one point, West was carrying his 
     commander, while returning fire with both his own and his 
     commander's weapon. And though he said he wasn't aware of 
     when it happened, West became one of the walking wounded 
     himself, sustaining wounds that would cost him an eye. But, 
     in typical fashion, when people referred to him as a hero, 
     West simply responded, ``They were all my brothers. Any of us 
     would have done it because you don't leave your brothers 
     behind.''
       For his actions on that day, West received numerous medals, 
     chiefly the Medal of Honor, which was presented by President 
     Dwight D. Eisenhower. Again, true to form, West said, ``I 
     turned it down at first. I thought everybody deserved a 
     medal.'' But he did accept the medal on Jan. 29, 1954, though 
     he was still reluctant to speak much of his time at war. And 
     it was obvious that West desired first and foremost to return 
     home and continue with his life. Fortunately for West, he was 
     able to do just that, by marrying and starting a family, and 
     even returned to his job at the railroad.
       ``He was one great man,'' said AMV Commander Lori Grizzle, 
     a friend who worked with West at the railroad. ``Our post is 
     named after him, and there are memorials to him at the 
     post.''
       But as much as West the hero, Grizzle says she misses her 
     friend.
       ``He was just such a nice person,'' she said. ``He was 
     funny and nice to be around. And he was always pleasant to 
     everyone.''
       Grizzle said West didn't really want to talk about himself, 
     and while she and her husband worked with him on the 
     railroad, he was very humble and didn't talk about his 
     service.
       ``But his wife persuaded him to talk to schools because she 
     thought that kids needed to know. And he was always great 
     about speaking to the kids about what it takes sometimes to 
     keep our country safe. It was the last thing he wanted to 
     talk about,'' Grizzle said. ``But she convinced him, and he 
     never hesitated then to speak to the kids. He will be dearly 
     missed.''
       West also was immortalized in a painting that now hangs in 
     the Greenup County Courthouse. A committee comprised of Soc 
     Clay, Tom Crump and Emily Cantrell Stephenson commissioned a 
     painting from Greenup High School art teacher Brian Moser, 
     and then sold prints of the painting signed by West, with the 
     proceeds going toward a scholarship for seniors at Greenup 
     County, Raceland, and Russell. The scholarship will continue, 
     and Clay said that it has quite a large impact on the 
     students.
       The official citation of West's Medal of Honor reads:
       ``Pfc. West distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry 
     above and beyond the call of duty in action against the 
     enemy. He voluntarily accompanied a contingent to locate and 
     destroy a reported enemy outpost. Nearing the objective, the 
     patrol was ambushed and suffered numerous casualties. 
     Observing his wounded leader lying in an exposed position, 
     Pfc. West ordered the troops to withdraw, then braved intense 
     fire to reach and assist him.
       While attempting evacuation, he was attacked by three 
     hostile soldiers employing grenades and smallarms fire. 
     Quickly shifting his body to shelter the officer, he killed 
     the assailants with his rifle, then carried the helpless man 
     to safety. He was critically wounded and lost an eye in this 
     action, but courageously returned through withering fire and 
     bursting shells to assist the wounded. While evacuating two 
     comrades, he closed with and killed three more of the foe. 
     Pfc. West's indomitable spirit, consummate valor, and 
     intrepid actions inspired all who observed him, reflect the 
     highest credit on himself, and uphold the honored traditions 
     of the military service.''
       Ernest ``Ernie'' Edison West is a shining example of how a 
     common man can rise to the occasion and do uncommon things. 
     His life both on active military duty and as a retired 
     veteran is a testament of dedication to the community and 
     country he loved. West passed from this life Sat., May 1, 
     2021, at the age of 89. But he will live on in the memory of 
     a grateful community and thankful country.

                          ____________________