Colonel Gustavus Wilcox West

Colonel Gustavus Wilcox West

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When Gus West passed away, the ranks of the few remaining pioneers in the development of American Armor were further depleted. Joining the fledgling 1st Cavalry (Mechanized) at Fort Knox in the mid-30's he commanded a "combat car" troop as the cavalry tanks were designated at that time. Gus had an innovative and exploring mind as well as a highly developed inventive capability. Many of his ideas were incorporated into the continuing improvement in the design and the capabilities of the tanks with which the United States Army fought the early tank battles of World War II.

The young and capable then Captain West was selected as Aide by Brigadier General Daniel Van Voorhis, Commanding General of the recently created 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized). Gus continued in this capacity with Lieutenant General Adna R. Chaffee. These two distinguished generals are the real fathers of the modern Armored Force. Gus worked with General Chaffee during the critical days of the development of the Armored Force when it was fighting for a place on the Army team against obstinate, bureaucratic, doctrinal inflexibility. Gus remained with General Chaffee until the latter's untimely death at the height of his career.

After serving with the 5th Armored Division in 1942 and part of 1943 at Camp Cooke, California, where he organized and commanded the 85th Reconnaissance Battalion, Gus joined the staff of XIX United States Army Corps as G3 as it prepared to embark for the during the many combat operations of the Corps as it fought its way across France, Belgium and Holland into Germany.

During the Battle of the Bulge, General McLain, commander of the XIX Corps, reluctantly granted Major General Ernest N. Harmon's request for Gus to be Chief of Staff of the 2d Armored Division, replacing Colonel Clayton Mansfield who had been killed in action. Gus remained with the 2d Armored Division throughout the remainder of the war, performing his duties with the skill and ability which had marked his previous assignments. His Division Commanders on many occasions expressed their deep appreciation for his contributions to the remarkable accomplishments of the Division. Among his decorations are the Red Star of Russia and France's Croix de Guerre.

After World War II Gus served as Chief of Staff of the Cavalry School, later the Ground General School, at Fort Riley, Kansas, until his final assignment as the senior Army member on the staff of Admiral John Connley, Commander in Chief, Atlantic, with headquarters in London, England. He returned to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where at his request, he retired 31 December 1949.

After his military retirement, Gus West began a second career as the senior executive of a large freight and oil trucking organization with his office in Denver, Colorado. Upon reaching retirement age in this career, he and his family moved to the pleasant and relaxing community of Ajijic, near Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico. Here, as usual, he was active in church and community affairs and in the sport and social life of the area. His final illness was short, and he died at the Hospital Mexico-Americano in Guadalajara.

Gustavus Wilcox West was born 14 March 1902 in Muskogee, Indian Territory. His father, Preston C. West, was a prominent attorney who helped draft the constitution of the State of Oklahoma. He served as Solicitor for the United States Department of the Interior in two Wilson Administrations. Gus's mother, Bessie Shelby, was the daughter of Colonel Winchester Bledsoe Shelby, Confederate Army. Both parents were born in Mississippi.

Gus attended Shenandoah Military Academy while his father was in Washington, later graduating from St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin, where he was on the football team and was class valedictorian. He graduated from West Point in the Class of 1925.

Gus is survived by his wife, Helen Cotton West; by his sister, Mrs. Caddis F. Morriss of Lexington, Kentucky, and his two nephews, Patrick Edward Madden and Preston West Maddon, both of Lexington.

United States Military Academy. Association of Graduates, Volume 32