John A. Butler

John Augustus Butler (September 30, 1910 – March 5, 1945) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

John A. Butler was born on September 30, 1910, in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from high school, he attended Loyola University for two years before he accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Upon graduating with the class of 1934, Butler was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He then attended the Basic School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until April 1935.

Butler was then assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the USS Trenton. The Trenton was permanently based out of Panama with the Special Service Squadron. Butler quickly became fluent in Spanish and was often sent ashore to coordinate port calls. He also served aboard the USS Memphis and USS Omaha during this time.

In January 1936, Butler attended a course at the Marine barracks in Quantico, Virginia. He remained in Quantico as a staff member until the end of the year. In 1937, Butler was stationed at Washington, D.C., first with Headquarters Marine Corps and then with the Latin American Section in the Office of Naval Intelligence. In July 1938, Butler was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in Quantico.

In February 1940, Butler was made a Naval attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic. That May, Butler was promoted to captain. Butler was in the Dominican Republic when the United States entered World War II. The Dominican Republic sided with the Allies and Butler worked with the dictator, Rafael Trujillo, in tracking down and deporting German spies and sympathizers. By March 1943, Butler was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Despite his success as a Naval attaché, Butler continually requested a combat assignment. His requests were finally approved and he attended the Command and Staff School in Quantico from October to December 1943.

Upon graduating, Butler was assigned to the newly activated 5th Marine Division in San Diego. Arriving at his new unit in January 1944, he was originally made the executive officer of Colonel Thomas A. Wornham's 27th Marine Regiment. However, he was soon given command of 1st Battalion, 27th Marines. In August, the 27th Marine Regiment moved to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii. In January 1945, the division left Camp Tarawa, conducting mock amphibious landings on Maui before stopping for a brief liberty in Pearl Harbor. On January 26, Butler's battalion embarked for Iwo Jima aboard the USS Hansford.

On February 19, 1945, Butler led his battalion ashore with the fourth wave at Red Beach Two during the battle of Iwo Jima. Under heavy fire, Butler led his Marines 150 yards inland, setting up his battalion command post on top of a blockhouse which was occupied by the enemy. Butler then coordinated his men in assaulting Motoyama Airfield Number One. While the left assault company circled the southern edge of the airfield, the right assault company became pinned down by heavy fire. Butler moved forward from his command post to the base of the airfield, where he directed his right assault company in moving forward. Butler's leadership resulted in the capture of the southern portion of the airfield by the end of February 20.