Major George Charles Westover was born on January 13, 1919, in Wichita, Kansas, to Earl Fredrick Westover and Izora Dorothy Dickerson.  After attending East High School in Wichita he enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 30, 1940, and was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  On the morning of December 7, 1941, the USS Tennessee was moored next to the USS West Virginia on “Battleship Row” when the Japanese launched their surprise attack.  As George related in a 2015 interview he was wearing swim trunks that morning intending to take a sun bath when he started to see explosions.  As General Quarters were sounded aboard ship he rushed to the top of the mast to take up his position as a gun director.  The USS Tennessee was hit by two bombs as well as debris from the exploding USS Arizona, losing five of her crew.  George was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in November 1942 and served as a platoon leader on Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima.  In 1944 he married Esther Grace Fuller from Missouri and remained in the Marine Corps after World War II.  In June 1950 the North Korean People’s Army invaded South Korea.  In response General Douglas MacArthur launched a surprise amphibious assault behind North Korean lines at Inchon on September 15, 1950.  Now Captain George Westover led George Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, during the assault and subsequent capture of Seoul.  He later served in assignments both overseas and in the United States before retiring on July 31, 1962.  George then earned a degree in Administration, Sales and Marketing at San Diego State University and enjoyed a successful real estate career in southern California.  Following Esther’s death in 2007 he moved to Hermitage, Tennessee, in 2010.  George passed away on June 30, 2015, survived by his second wife, Lucille, step-daughter, Debra Rohrer, and stepson Dan Rohrer.  He now rests at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. 


This is a picture of Major Westover's marker.

USS West Virginia and USS Tennessee at Pearl Harbor.

This is a picture of the USS West Virginia and USS Tennessee at Pearl Harbor. 

This is a picture of Major George C. Westover.

Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery

george charles westover's Profile Picture

Major George Charles Westover was born on January 13, 1919, in Wichita, Kansas, to Earl Fredrick Westover and Izora Dorothy Dickerson.  After attending East High School in Wichita he enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 30, 1940, and was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  On the morning of December 7, 1941, the USS Tennessee was moored next to the USS West Virginia on “Battleship Row” when the Japanese launched their surprise attack.  As George related in a 2015 interview he was wearing swim trunks that morning intending to take a sun bath when he started to see explosions.  As General Quarters were sounded aboard ship he rushed to the top of the mast to take up his position as a gun director.  The USS Tennessee was hit by two bombs as well as debris from the exploding USS Arizona, losing five of her crew.  George was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in November 1942 and served as a platoon leader on Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima.  In 1944 he married Esther Grace Fuller from Missouri and remained in the Marine Corps after World War II.  In June 1950 the North Korean People’s Army invaded South Korea.  In response General Douglas MacArthur launched a surprise amphibious assault behind North Korean lines at Inchon on September 15, 1950.  Now Captain George Westover led George Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, during the assault and subsequent capture of Seoul.  He later served in assignments both overseas and in the United States before retiring on July 31, 1962.  George then earned a degree in Administration, Sales and Marketing at San Diego State University and enjoyed a successful real estate career in southern California.  Following Esther’s death in 2007 he moved to Hermitage, Tennessee, in 2010.  George passed away on June 30, 2015, survived by his second wife, Lucille, step-daughter, Debra Rohrer, and stepson Dan Rohrer.  He now rests at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. 

GEORGE CHARLES WESTOVER

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