Second Lieutenant John Edward Butts, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on June 23, 1944 in Normandy, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company E, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Butts was 21 years old.
Butts was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Butts was born on August 8, 1922 in Medina, Orleans County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Buffalo, Erie County, New York. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Medina, New York. His medal is held by Public Library, Medina, NY.
Butts is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Heroically led his platoon against an enemy in Normandy, France, on 14, 16, and 23 June 1944. Although painfully wounded on the 14th near Orglandes and again on the 16th while spearheading an attack to establish a bridgehead across the Douve River, he refused medical aid and remained with his platoon. A week later, near Flottemanville Hague, he led an assault on a tactically important and stubbornly defended hill studded with tanks, antitank guns, pillboxes, and machine-gun emplacements and protected by concentrated artillery and mortar fire. As the attack was launched, 2d Lt. Butts, at the head of his platoon, was critically wounded by German machine-gun fire. Although weakened by his injuries, he rallied his men and directed one squad to make a flanking movement while he alone made a frontal assault to draw the hostile fire upon himself. Once more he was struck, but by grim determination and sheer courage continued to crawl ahead. When within 10 yards of his objective, he was killed by direct fire. By his superb courage, unflinching valor, and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strongpoint and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion's mission.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although painfully wounded on the 14th near Orglandes and again on the 16th while spearheading an attack to establish a bridgehead across the Douve River, he refused medical aid and remained with his platoon.
Although weakened by his injuries, he rallied his men and directed one squad to make a flanking movement while he alone made a frontal assault to draw the hostile fire upon himself.
Once more he was struck, but by grim determination and sheer courage continued to crawl ahead.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 23, 1944).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: St. Mary's Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Medina College
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 8, 1922Born in Medina, Orleans County, New York
- June 23, 1944Act of valor — Normandy, FranceAge 21. Company E, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeSt. Mary's CemeteryMedina, New York
Biography
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. Butts was one of five brothers to serve in the war and the only one to be killed in action.
From the Wikipedia article “John E. Butts”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
