Ann Maria West (nee Pekarina)
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
-Ann Marie-WWII-Army-HS pic.jpg)
WEST (nee Pekarina), Ann Maria
Ann Maria West was born on May 17th 1916 to Matt & Antonia Pekarina in Virginia, Minnesota. She graduated fro Roosevelt High School.
Ms. West enlisted in the U.S. Women's Army Corps (WAC) on August 5th 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota during WWII. She is listed as 'married'.
Ms. West served as a telephone switchboard operator with the WAC Detachment in the Southern Philippines and New Guinea in the Pacific Theater. She rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant (TSGT).
SGT West earned the following medals for her service:
- Woman's Army Corps Service Medal,
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 bronze stars,
- World War II Victory Medal, -and-
- one overseas service bar.
She was honorably discharged on October 21st 1945, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. After the war she returned home to her family.
Ms. West died on December 15th 1994 at 78 years of age. She is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Virginia.
Source(s): Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 339.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Ann M West in Social Security Death Index - Fold3
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 - Ancestry.com
