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
General West was a US Air Force pilot. He was part of the Vietnam 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
Stargate (1995)
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)
Major General West is replaced by Major General George Hammond.
"The Torment of Tantalus"
When Catherine Langford meets Major General George Hammond for the very first time in Stargate Command, she tells Colonel Jack O'Neill that Hammond's behavior seems worse than General West's. O'Neill reassures her, stating that "he's a Teddy Bear".
Medals and distinctions
| Distinction | Badge/Ribbon | Distinction | Badge/Ribbon | Distinction | Badge/Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force pilote badge | 
|
||||
| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | 
|
||||
| Meritorious Service Medal | 
|
Air Force Commendation Medal | 
|
Air Force Achievement Medal | 
|
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 
|
National Defense Service Medal | 
|
Vietnam Service Medal | 
|
| Southwest Asia Service Medal | 
|
Air Force Overseas Short Tour | 
|
Air Force Longevity Service Award (with two unknown oaf leaf clusters) |
|
| Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | 
|
Air Force Training Ribbon | 
|
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal | 
|
Notes
- West is married, as one can see a wedding band on his left ring finger (Stargate).
- West's next affectation after Project Giza is not known.
Behind the scenes
- Leon Rippy, who portrays W.O. West, has already worked seven times with director Roland Emmerich.
External links
- GateWorld's article on General West in The Stargate Omnipedia
- Stargate SG-1 Solutions's article on General West in The StargateWiki
References
- ↑ This part of the biography is deducted from his ribbons and badge.
- ↑ This is an inconsitency with the Stargate canon. See here for more details on the differences.
- ↑ This part is visible only on the Director's Cut version of the movie.