Sgt.
Robert Butler served in Vietnam with the 1st Marine
Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. He was killed
on Operation HASTINGS. For his heroism above and beyond the call
of duty, he was awarded the Silver Star. His fellow Marines will never
forget this very special man. Sgt. Butler's name stands proud on the
Mike
3/5 Wall of Honor. God bless you forever, Brother Marine.~DR
Operation
HASTINGS
The
President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
SILVER
STAR MEDAL posthumously to
SERGEANT
ROBERT H. BUTLER, JR.
UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS
for
service as set forth In the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous and intrepidity in action while serving
as a Squad Leader in Company, M, Third Battalion, Fifth
Marines on search and destroy operations against the North
Vietnamese Army in the Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam
on 18 July 1966.
Company
M landed by helicopter in Quang Tri Province, and immediately
came under intense enemy automatic weapons and small-arms
fire. Sergeant Butler, spotting an enemy machine-gun emplacement,
maneuvered his squad in an attempt to destroy the vital
position.
Due
to dense vegetation, he lost momentary contact with his
squad. Unhesitatingly, he single-handedly continued the
attack exposing himself to devastating fire, and with complete
disregard for his own personal safety, engaged the machine-gun
position at close range and succeeded In destroying it.
Shortly
thereafter, Sergeant Butler was mortally wounded by sniper
fire. His daring actions in the face of almost certain death
served as a great inspiration to the men of his squad. By
his heroic initiative, indomitable fighting spirit and unwavering
devotion to duty, he upheld the traditions of the Marine
Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He Gallantly
gave his life for his country.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HEADQUARTERS. FLEET MARINE FORCE.
PACIFIC FPO, SAN FRANCISCO, 96602
Friday, July 23, 1999
|
Remembering
Bob Butler
Bob
was a school-mate of mine, also a neighbor. He lived about a mile
from me, and he and his brother, Steve, spent some time working for
my dad on our farm. I had a huge "crush" on Bob --he was
a real hunk.
He
wrote to my Dad a few times after he joined the Marines, came to visit
us once before he went to Viet Nam. He came in his full dress uniform.
He was so proud to be a Marine, and he wanted my Dad to know that
he "amounted to something." Dad had given him and Steve
some summer work on our farm. Bob would immediately take his money
and walk the 4 miles to Sheridan to buy groceries for younger brothers
and sister.
I want everyone to know that Bob was a fine young man who had a sense
of responsibility far beyond his years. He was well liked by his schoolmates,
and I'm sure that he was idolized as a wonderful big brother by Steve.
Steve, was also in Viet Nam. Wounded there, I believe. I think he
went back to Viet Nam to escort Bob's body home.
I
had heard that Bob was married and had a son. If he did have a son,
I would hope that he would be very proud of his father.
I
talked with my Dad last evening -- he is now aged 87, but mentally
as strong as ever. I asked him if he knew that Bob had been given
the Silver Star. He, like me, did not know that. I read him the citation,
and told him there was no doubt that Bob died a hero. His comment,
"I would have bet the farm he would have never been shot running
away."
He said that if anyone ever hears from Steve, please tell him that
Dick Davis from Sheridan would love to hear from him. He confirmed
that Steve was also a Marine, also in Viet Nam, and was wounded (shot
in the face, we think), released from the hospital to escort Bob home.
The
picture at the top of the page
is Bob taken in 1961 when we were sophomores in high school. That
was the last year that I attended school with Bob. The picture was
of our high school (Sheridan, Indiana) track team. Bob could run like
a gazelle.~Ellen Baker
