Dick "Monkey" West was laid to rest at approximately 1500 hrs. Wed. , 12 Feb, '97 in a small family cemetery in Commanche, OK. (About 10 miles south of his boyhood home of Duncan, OK). There was a chaplain and an eight person Honor guard detail from Sheppard AFB, and a uniformed CCT contingent consisting of: SMSgt. John Scanlon, 1st Lt. Lamar Ikeman, SSgt Gilbert Ochoa, SRA Chris Matero, & SRA Mike Erdley from Little Rock AFB. Chief Tim Brown, JD Burch, John Eddington and wife Sandra, Louie May, Ed Miller, and Johnny Pantages were there to represent the Combat Controllers that couldn't attend. Dick's wife, Kuma, along with daughters Caroline, Diane and son Richard, accompanied by the Eddington's, drove out from NC. You can all be proud of the service and the CCT showing.

Dick had requested that the song "Desperado" be played to open the service. While the casket remained closed, we did have a rather large poster size picture of Dick in his uniform stationed near by. There were more flowers than I've ever seen at a funeral, with a special arrangement from Buddy Bowden which displayed a small stuffed monkey in the center. The family Pastor and the AF Chaplain said their piece and I gave the Eulogy. With that we moved through town with a rather long procession towards the cemetery in Commanche. You'll be happy to know that people still stop on both sides of the road for funeral processions in Duncan. We had traffic tied up for miles. We passed Boot Hill. That's the last bar on the right leaving Duncan and headed for Commanche. It was a cold and very windy 30 degrees or so with a snow flake or two in the air. The Combat Controllers, both active and retired, stood at attention near the foot of the casket. The AF Chaplain said the one about the Valley of Death, the honor guard folded the Flag, fired the guns and played Taps. The folded Flag with shell casings inserted, was presented to Kumo by SMSgt John Scanlon. Dick was laid to rest with a picture of his granddaughter (Cristen) & a CCT Coin belonging to Larry Claussen in his breast pocket. Later that night we went back to Boot Hill for a few drinks.

* *those -who knew and had the privilege to serve with Monkey West miss his spirit and standard of excellence.... -Ed.