W.O. West

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W.O. West
W.O. West.jpg
Biographical information
Planet of origin Earth
Nationality American
Gender
Race Tau'ri
Species Human
Socio-political information
Occupation Military
Rank Major General
Allegiances US Air Force,
Project Giza
Out of Stargate universe information
Portrayed by Leon Rippy
First appearance Stargate

W.O. West was a US Air Force Major General. He headed Project Giza in 1995, leaving his command to Major General George Hammond by 1997.

Biography[edit | edit source]

General West was a US Air Force pilot. He was part of the Vietnam War as well the Gulf War. He is an expert of small arms.[1] Later, he was assigned as head of the Project Giza in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado Springs, allowing Catherine Langford and a civilian team to do researchs on an artefact known at this time as "Doorway to Heaven" (Stargate).

Character's evolution[edit | edit source]

Stargate (1995)[edit | edit source]

Major General West sends two officers to Colonel Jack O'Neill's home to inform him he has been reactivated.

Two weeks after Daniel Jackson's discovery, he's leading a meeting where Jackson explains the meaning of the seven symbols found on the Giza coverstone. He allows Colonel O'Neill to show to Jackson an alien device, the Stargate, and orders to launch a dialing sequence with the dialing computer. After the connection is established, he orders to send a probe through the Stargate which collects all data for analysis. After Jackson sees that the arrival Stargate has different symbols than the Earth gate,[2] West is about to cancel the mission, but Jackson convinces him that he can find a way to come back. West then assigns Jackson to the recon team, led by Colonel O'Neill.

Later he meets O'Neill who's looking at the Horus guards fossile found in the Giza digging in 1928. He warns O'Neill about the possible threat for Earth and tells him that this was the reason he asked him for the mission.[3]

After the return of O'Neill, Kawalsky and Ferretti from Abydos, he sends a robot-probe through the gate which crushes instantly. Then, the Project Giza shuts down, the US Air Force ships all civilian personnel as they run out of money. West leaves the Cheyenne Mountain Complex for some reason (SG1: "Children of the Gods").

"Children of the Gods" (1997)[edit | edit source]

Major General West is replaced by Major General George Hammond.

Medals and distinctions[edit | edit source]

Distinction Badge/Ribbon Distinction Badge/Ribbon Distinction Badge/Ribbon
Air Force pilote badge United States Air Force Pilot Badge.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award
(with two unknown oaf leaf clusters)
Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon Air and Space Training Ribbon.svg Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon.png

Notes[edit | edit source]

Behind the scene[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. This part of the biography is deducted from his ribbons and badge.
  2. This is an inconsitency with the Stargate canon. See here for more details on the differences.
  3. This part is visible only on the Director's Cut version of the movie.