The Terrible Death Of John Edward Butts, And Honor For Her Heroic action During WWII.
U.S. Army Second Lieutenant John Edward Butts of Medina, New York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on June 14, 16, and 23, 1944 near Orglandes, France.
Butts joined the National Guard at age 17 in 1939 and began National Guard training at Fort McClellan in Alabama in October 1940.
After training, he was assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. In November 1942, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned a second lieutenant on November 29.
He requested overseas duty and participated in the North Africa Campaign and the Invasion of Sicily, where he was decorated for bravery. During these campaigns and the Normandy Campaign, he was a platoon leader of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.
Butts was wounded on June 14 near Orglandes, France, and then again on June 16 but refused medical aid and stayed with his platoon to accomplish their mission. He was killed on June 23 by machine gun fire while attacking an enemy hill.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on these days.
John Edward Butts (August 4, 1922 – June 23, 1944) was a United States Army second lieutenant and rifle platoon leader who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions above and beyond the call of duty during the Normandy Campaign in World War II.
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