 In March 1943, West joined the Army Air Force, serving with the Sixth Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command at Long Beach, California, where he regularly played baseball with (the aforementioned) Ruffing, Jerry Priddy and Nany Fernandez.In April 1946, after returning from military service, West was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Jim Konstanty.He played just 73 games that year, batting .212.