More detail on this person: Grover Cleveland
West III (April 22, 1947 - November 20, 2016)
Lt. Colonel (Retired) Grover Cleveland West, III
died Sunday after a courageous battle with
cancer.
Colonel West was born to Grover and Dorcas West
in Rockwood, Tennessee. After high school he
enlisted in the U.S. Army where he later earned a
Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a
Commission from the Office Candidate School.
Grover met and married Peggy Millender while
stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. While in uniform, he
served combat tours in Vietnam as a helicopter
pilot and again as an engineer during the Gulf
War, He retired from active duty in 1996.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze
Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air
Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,
Vietnam Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service
Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National
Defense Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign
Medal, Parachutist badge, Army aviator badge, Rep
of Vietnam gallantry cross unit citation with palm
ribbon and Kuwait liberation medal. Following his
retirement from the U.S. Army, he served as a
Brigade, Division and Corps level command and
staff evaluator for several military/civilian
training contractors.
Grover was preceded in death by his parents,
Grover and Dorcas West and sister, Nancy Mier.
Grover is survived by his wife, Peggy West;
daughter, Lisa Charette and husband Mark
Charette; son, Grover Cleveland West IV and wife
Kyra West. He leaves behind four grandchildren,
Kelsey Charette, Justin Charette and John Mark
Charette and Lily West. He is also survived by his
brother, Randall West and wife Susan West and
sister, Kathy Brown and husband Ray Brown as
well as many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces
and grandnephews.
Memorials can be made to Win Rockefeller Cancer
Center, or the American Cancer Society.
Services will be held at Love-Cantrell Funeral
Home in Smithville with burial to follow at DeKalb
Cemetery in Smithville. Visitation with the family
will be Friday, November 25 from 6-8 p.m. and
services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
From: Ron Holmes Centaur 24 F Troop 4th Cav
Burial information: DeKalb Cemetery, Smithville
This information was last updated 12/11/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association