Howard Miller WEST
1944

Outstanding Air Student

The final issue of the Campus this year and of this column presents A/ S Howard M. West as the outstanding aviation student of the week. Lt. Chandler made this selection chiefly because of his rise to the post of flight lieutenant.

Born in the notorious section of New York known as Brooklyn, he emphatically denies that he holds any affection whatsoever for the Dodgers. While still young he moved with his family to Long Island, his home until he entered the Army. Being graduated from the Valley Stream High school, he was active in athletics, playing varsity football for three years at end position and varsity basketball for four years at center position. He was also president of his chapter of Omega Gamma Delta, his high school fraternity. These fraternities are not permitted in New York city, but are organized secretly and are stronger here than almost anywhere in the United States.

After high school, Howard worked for an insurance company, but his job as a clerk didn't thrill him particularly, with the result that he left within six months. While with the insurance company he was a volunteer member of a fire department and became a lieutenant on the rescue squad in a short time. Running a bulldozer for an excavation company down south followed. In 1940 he went to work for the Sperry-Girer company, which makes bomb sights. Remaining here until he enlisted in the Air Corps, West became payroll supervisor at the plant.

On October 3, 1943, A/ S West enlisted in the Air Corps and took his basic training at Greensboro, North Carolina. On December 14 he entered Allegheny, which he now likes very much. Howard's ambition is to become a navigator.

"After the war" plans are still rather hazy for A/ S West. He would like to return to the Sperry-Girer company and technically has been promised a job with the company, but the demand for bomb sights will probably be quite low after the war and his chances at this company he believes are mighty slim. Right now, though, his greatest concern is doing his best to become a good navigator, and we wish him all possible luck in this undertaking.

THE CAMPUS of ALLEGHENY COLLEGE, MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, April 27, 1944



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