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Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Co. E, 60th Infantry,
9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Normandy, France, 14, 16, and 23
June 1944. Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y. Birth: Medina, N.Y. G.O. No.:
58, 19 July 1945. Citation: Heroically led his platoon against the 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 machinegun 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 machinegun fire. Although weakened by his injuries, he
rallied his men and directed 1 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 strong point and
contributed greatly to the success of his battalion's mission.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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