George Vernon West of North Sutton, NH, and Manchester, NH was born in Lewiston, Maine in 1934. He was raised in North Sutton, where his father ran the Vernondale Store and George clerked there along with pumping gas for the customers and renting his boat to the summer residents at Kezar Lake. He enjoyed ice skating on Kezar Lake in the winter months. He graduated with third honors in 1952 from New London High School.

In 1953, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Thule Greenland, and for three years in Hawaii. He spent a total of nine years in the U.S. Air Force. He was crew chief on B-29 bombers, C-124 Globemasters, and the C-47. He worked in the aviation field all his life, working for Buker Airways in Springfield, Vermont; Precision Valley Aviation, Sajen Air, and Concord Aviation.

George was a 52-year member of New London Post 40, New London, NH, where he served for several years as Post Commander. He was District Six Commander and elected State Commander in June 1982 and continued his volunteer service until the end. He served 14 years as a National Executive Committeeman and was a member of the National Internal Affairs Commission. He attended national conventions of The American Legion for 44 years.