He departed on board the Danish vessel SS Hellig Olav from the port of Kristiansand and arrived in New York City on September 5, 1905.

[2] Westa joined the United States Navy from New York and by September 8, 1910, was serving as a chief machinist's mate on the USS North Dakota (BB-29).

[3] On that day, while the North Dakota was conducting tests using oil as fuel, an explosion occurred, killing three sailors and endangering the ship.

After ensuring the safety of the ship, they then searched for and removed the bodies of the three sailors killed in the initial explosion.

North Dakota, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the fire on board that vessel, 8 September 1910.