Word Celebrity Blog

William E. Butler


Indiana's Most Decorated Soldier


William E. Butler, 77,  Star City, Indiana, died July 9, 2007 at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

He was born January 25, 1930 in Indianapolis to Duge and Addie (Hestand) Butler.

After attending Manual High School until 16-years-old, William Butler decided to enlist in the Army. He used his brother's birth certificate, though all three of his brothers were serving in the Navy.

In 1946,he enlisted in the 82d Airborne Division, which included 16 weeks of infantry training. After training at Fort McClellen, Alabama, then - PVT Butler was ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia for six-weeks of Airborne training. Training included physical training, jump qualification, chute packing (his own), and the CG 4a Glider System. He was 17 years old when he graduated Airborne Training.

William Butler was married to Norma J. Worthington on June 7, 1958, in Indianapolis.

MSG Butler completed Basic Airborne & Glider training in 1946, and is a graduate of Class 2-51 of the United States Army Ranger School. Throughout his career MSG Butler has mentored and trained Ranger troops during peacetime and war, as well as performing acts of valor while engaging the enemy in combat.

He was then ordered to Germany with the 82d Airborne Division, 504th Infantry Regiment. He was assigned to the Honor Guard of General Lucious Clay, then-Commander of the Forces in Europe. He remained with this unit until the deactivation of all Airborne units in Europe. He was then transferred to Troop A (-) 4th Constabulary, Wels Austria. While there he served as a Military Highway Patrolman. Having 30 months of overseas duty, SGT Butler was assigned to the 9th Infantry RCT at Fort Carson, CO to train new recruits of the draft program developed by Congress.


























SGT Butler was phased out of the military in 1949 and placed in the inactive reserve system. It was about this time that North Korea crossed the DMZ, and in June 1950, SGT Butler was recalled to active duty. He volunteered for the new Ranger Training Command located at Fort Benning, Georia. Upon graduating from Class 2-51, Ranger Training Command, and the Pathfinder course, he was ordered to the 5th Ranger Company, 25th Infantry Division, 27th Infantry Regiment stationed near the 38th Parallel. It was here that SGT Butler was wounded and received his first Silver Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. His fire team spotted an enemy element trying to cut off the unit’s line of withdrawal. He moved his team to a more effective position and brought the platoon-size enemy element under automatic fire. Though wounded twice in the engagement, then, Corporal Butler moved from position-to-position to direct accurate fire upon the enemy. Disregarding enemy fire and his own safety, Corporal Butler directed air-support upon the enemy element until they broke contact and fled. He then led his small fire team out of the enemy area to safety. The following months were served on the Swedish hospital boat, the Jutlanden at Nogouia, Japan. SGT Butler received a 10 percent disability and was assigned to the inactive reserve.







































In 1954, the Special Forces were recruiting rangers from the Korean War. SGT Butler again volunteered as an instructor and was assigned to the 77th Special Forces Group. He served as a member of the elite unit as an underwater demolitions expert and as the Operations and Intelligence NCO. He later took the team to South Korea to assist in training Korean units in the areas of insertion and extraction of troops by water and by air.

During his first of two tours in the Korean War, MSG Butler was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Purple Heart.

During his second Korean tour he instructed water and air insertion & extraction to the South Korean Army, and was an instructor for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning.

During training for Vietnam at Fort Benning, he was awarded the Soldier?s Medal when he saved a er crossing exercise. While in Vietnam he was awarded his second Silver Star, Combat Infantryman?s Badge, and Purple Heart.

After 18 months of overseas duty, SGT Butler again returned to the United States and was mustered out of the military.

He then became a member of the Marion County Sheriffs Department. He served on the Department for five years, as well as developing his own contracting company. In 1962 he resigned his position on the force. From 1962 until 1965 he ran his construction company.


























In 1965, William Butler found himself returning to serve his country once again. The Indiana National Guard was creating an Airborne Battalion as part of its 38th Infantry Division, and then-Adjutant General MG John Anderson needed jump-qualified soldiers. After an interview by CPT Ken Himsel, SGT Butler found himself not only as a member of the Battalion, but as the only Jumpmaster and Ranger qualified member. The Battalion would later be inactivated, but two separate companies (D and E) would remain. SGT Butler was assigned to Company D (LRP) 151st Infantry.

Because of his experience and training, Ranger Butler found himself moving up through the ranks of Company D (LRP) 151st Infantry. The unit attended the Jungle Warfare School at Fort Sherman, Republic of Panama, where the members exceeded all regular Army standards for the type of training received. Graduating 99 percent of the starting class, the unit was 100% MOS qualified and 100% Airborne qualified. Sixty days later the unit was called to active duty by President Johnson. SFC Butler was immediately called to active duty with this unit, assisting with the activation. He was a member of the advance party to Fort Benning, GA to coordinate training and prepare for unit arrival.


























After six months of intensive training, SFC Butler was transferred to the 2d Battalion 173d Airborne Brigade, Bong Son, Vietnam as the Operations NCO. After five months and many missions, he was transferred back to Company D (Ranger) 151st Infantry. Five more months found SFC Butler on many missions in enemy territory. It was while on one mission that SFC Butler was wounded in an ambush position. The incident involved his six-man team taking on a company-size enemy element. This conflict accredited the team as killing or wounding 34 of the enemy. SFC Butler received his second Silver Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge. When Company D (Ranger) 151st Infantry was ready to return home in November 1969, SFC Butler was appointed First Sergeant and responsible for all that was necessary to bring the unit home. In 1970 SFC Butler was discharged from the National Guard of Indiana.

After discharge in 1970, SFC Butler was appointed Surveyor of Pulaski County, Indiana until 1973. He then drove trucks for Courier Newson Trucking Corporation until 1982. While driving trucks, he was talked into re-enlisting in the National Guard in 1977 by his former commander, LTC Ken Himsel. Shortly after, the southern region of Indiana became involved in volatile coal strike, and SFC Butler found himself very involved. After the strike was settled, SFC Butler was assigned to Brigade Headquarters as the NCO of a Military Training Team. In 1980 he was transferred to the 38th Infantry Division Headquarters as the Assistant Operations NCO. In 1981 he applied for and was granted full-time status as a recruiter. For the next three years SFC Butler was one of the top 10 recruiters in Indiana.


























In 1984 MSG Butler was assigned as the Operations and Readiness Training Specialist for 1st Battalion 293d Infantry. His expertise was called on to develop the program known as the Long Range Surveillance Unit Format, prior to its existence within the design of the Department of the Army. MSG Butler was ordered to the 7th Corp in Germany to assist in the development of the new Long Range Surveillance units.



















In 1985 he was instructed to start recruiting and training for such a unit within the Indiana National Guard. The unit was organized in 1986 as the LRS Troop of 1st Squadron 238th Cavalry, and MSG Butler took an administrative reduction in rank to remain the unit's Operations NCO. His doing this caused the continual growth of the unit in the quality of training and personnel to be of the highest standards. On 1 October 1989, the unit was re-designated the 151st Infantry Detachment (LRS), and inherited the lineage and honors of Company D (Ranger) 151st Infantry. It was on this date that MG Ken Himsel and MAJ Ron Himsel, both former Commanders of Company D (Ranger), and SFC Butler, presented Company D (Ranger) 151st Infantry's guideon to the 151st Infantry Detachment (LRS). It was also on this date that Ranger Butler performed his final jump, at age 59. He was discharged from the National Guard because he had reached the maximum age.






















Ranger Butler would be called into service again, though. On 14 January 1991, Ranger Butler was called back into active duty to assist with the mobilization of units for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. It was largely due, again, to his expertise and experience, that the mobilization of the Indiana units to Southeast Asia was so smooth. He was, again, discharged from active duty on 2 August 1991.


























Ranger Butler was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame on October 4, 2000. Also attending were his wife, most of his children, many of his grandchildren, men that he served with during the Korean War, members of Company D (Ranger) 151st Infantry, and the 151st Infantry Detachment (LRS). In all, there were 151 guests to see Ranger Butler receive the honor, including Sergeant Major of the Army Tilley.

Ranger Butler's Awards include:
Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal (2d Awd),
Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Army Achievement Medal,
Army Good Conduct Medal with Clasp,
WWII Victory Medal,
Army Occupation Medal,
National Defense Service Medal with Star,
Korean Service Ribbon with 2 Stars,
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Stars,
NCODP (4th Awd),
Army Service Ribbon,
United Nations Medal,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal,
Indiana Long Service Medal,
National Emergency Service Ribbon of Indiana.
MSG Butler's badges and tabs include Combat Infantryman Badge with Star,
Master Parachutist Badge,
Glider Badge, Pathfinder Badge,
Jungle Expert Badge,
Ranger Tab,
Special Forces Tab.
Unit Citations include Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award,
Meritorious Unit Commendation,
Korean Presidential Unit Commendation,
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm,
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation.

Upon his return to Indiana from Vietnam in 1969, MSG William E. Butler was recognized as being Indiana's Most Decorated Soldier.

William Butler ended his career in the active Army in 1989, and at the age of 59, he performed his last parachute jump, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

After his retirement, Butler was inducted into the Indiana Hall of Heroes and recognized by Governor Evan Bayh as a Sagamore of the Wabash.

Other career highlights for Butler include his being a Deputy Sheriff of Marion County. He also owned his own construction company in Indianapolis for several years. After relocating to Star City, he served as the Pulaski County Surveyor and was involved in the trucking industry for a number of years. Active in the community, he was a member of the VFW and Teamsters Union.


























William Butler was to also be honored at a ceremony at Ft. Benning, Ga. on Aug. 29, 2007 culminating with the dedication of the National Guard Warrior Training Center in his name, at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Camp Butler was dedicated in honor of his unwavering loyalty, dedication to duty, and accomplishments as a U.S. Army Ranger.

Survivors include his wife, Norma J. Worthingtin Butler of Star City; six sons: William Ray [Beth] Clark of Rochester, NY, Hubert [Pamela] Doughty of Remington, Frank [Patricia] Doughty of Royal Center, Roger [Carolyn] Butler of Royal Center, Chuck Doughty of Star City, and William [Dolores] Butler Jr. of Theresa, NY; three daughters: Rose Owens of Indianapolis, Jeanette Milburn of St. John, and Karen Smith of Star City. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara [Buzz] Baker of Indianapolis; and a brother, Duge [Anita] Butler of Indianapolis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Duge and Addie (Hestand) Butler; and two brothers: Fred Butler and Dean Hill.

Burial was in the Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Located at Greenwood, Indiana.