ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County honored two World War II veterans, each recently reaching 100 years of age, during a special ceremony on May 5 at the St. Johns County Administration Rotunda.
William “Bill” West and George Ceccanese were recognized by the Board of County Commissioners for their service, sacrifice, and lifelong contributions to the nation and their community.
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The event began with an 8 a.m., followed by a formal recognition during the Board’s regular meeting at 9 a.m.
Both men are celebrated members of the “Greatest Generation,” whose lives reflect values of duty, resilience, and patriotism.
West was born in 1926 in Beverly, New Jersey, and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18. He deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he served with the 780th Amphibious Tank Battalion and later as a military police officer at Camp John Hay in the Philippines.
His service included operations in Manila Bay under enemy fire, road patrol, prisoner guarding, and interrogations. West earned several honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross — the Army’s second-highest award for valor — along with the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal.
Despite illness, combat conditions and a dangerous return journey through a typhoon, West has remained humble, consistently honoring those who did not make it home.
Ceccanese, also born in 1926, began his military service in 1944 as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After his discharge in 1945, he attended Purdue University and later accepted a commission in the U.S. Navy, serving in the reserves for 14 years.
He went on to build a career with General Electric, earned a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University and taught economics in China. After retiring to St. Augustine in 1988, Ceccanese served as Executive Director and President of Habitat for Humanity, helping oversee the construction of 24 homes.
He has also been recognized with Catholic Charities’ Good Samaritan award and multiple lifetime memberships in service organizations.
Ceccanese’s brothers also served during World War II, while West’s sons later served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
The Board of County Commissioners expressed gratitude to both veterans and their families, emphasizing the importance of preserving their stories for future generations.