Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Brian K. West of Boardman poses among a sea of sale items at Method8inc.com, 5648 Market St., Boardman. He served on the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher DDG57 while in the U.S. Navy.

BOARDMAN — Brian K. West of Boardman has developed a spirit of never giving up, of working hard, and of always helping those in need. He gained those qualities from his path in life that included several years of service in the U.S. Navy.

West grew up in Youngstown and graduated from Chaney High School in 2000. In his senior year, the track team had a shot at state competition, but one team member injured his leg and thus the chance for the trip to Columbus ended.

“We didn’t make it to state,” he said. “It was a big disappointment and I had seen so many disappointments that I decided just to go to a recruiter and sign up.”

Another factor in serving the country was in his family. His father was in the Navy, his grandfather was in the U.S. Air Force, he has an uncle who was in the U.S. Army, another uncle who was a Navy chief, and a great-grandfather who earned the Purple Heart.

At age 17, West entered the Navy and was amazed to find his uncle, Navy Chief Keith Butler.

“When I saw him, the first thing he did was make me drop and do push-ups,” West said. “He didn’t take it easy on me at all.”

West trained at the Naval Station Great Lakes and after boot camp attended gunnery school. He continued his training in Virginia where he became well versed in advanced missiles.

In 2001, West was assigned to the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher DDG57. The ship was deployed that year with Carrier Group 2.

West served in the front and rear missile launchers on the USS Mitscher. His job was to ensure the missiles were ready to fire and to handle that task when needed. He said it was a rough task, and when someone is out at sea, they can still develop sea sickness.

He was on the ship about a year when he suffered a tough situation — he lost his cognitive ability. He was quickly sent back home and was in the hospital for a seemingly long time.

“I don’t recall a lot from that time,” he said. “I was young and scared, and not sure what was going to happen. As soon as I could, I found a Bible and started reading it. I read it every day and that is how I got better.”

He said his time in the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital was a good one. He said many bash the clinic and the doctors, but his experience had him saying, “The VA doctors are amazing.”

West spent five years in the hospital and in rehabilitation. He kept reading the Bible and doing what the therapists asked as he grew stronger and was gaining back his abilities day by day.

“I decided while I was in the hospital that I wanted to live the American dream,” West said.

In 2007, he opened Method 8 as a Christian children’s book publisher. It was opened in a building in downtown Youngstown.

In 2008, he was cleared from the hospital and was given an honorable discharge from the Navy.

Entering back into civilian life, West went to work for the U.S. Postal Service for 10 years. In that time, he was always working and was always on the overtime list.

During his years serving at the post office, West continued to go for that American dream with Method 8. He focused the business on being an independent book publisher and consulting company.

In 2011, West merged into the performing arts. Three years after that expansion, West moved his growing business from Youngstown to Boardman, where it is today. Under the Method 8 umbrella, West handles many aspects of theater, media, videos, movies, and music, and serves as publishing consultants, business consultants, marketing consultants, event planners, photography, videography, modeling, wen consultants, performing arts specialist, and other art-related services.

West also runs a consignment thrift shop to help fund the arts and programs offered by the business.

West also attended ITT, where he has degrees in computer engineering and business administration. He also had credits in electronics and computers, before the school closed.

He said one other important life lesson is in volunteering. West helps whenever there is a need, be it a church or community task, or an individual needing help. He said since 2003, he has probably logged 200,000 volunteer hours.

When it comes to serving as a volunteer, or serving to protect the freedom Americans enjoy, West said it was a feeling that was given to him at an early age.

“Youngstown was a tough place to grow up,” West said. “I am thankful for my parents (Lisa West and step father Nate McKinney) who were there for me. My mother always kept her phone close by and was always there when I called regardless of the hour. She is the whole reason I wanted to get better (while in the Navy Hospital) so she would have a better life.”

He said his parents are his best friends and credits them for getting through all the hard times and enjoying all the good times.

Have an interesting story? Email J.T. Whitehouse at jtwhitehouse@vindy.com