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==World War I== ==World War I==

Butler entered West Point on 14 June 1913.{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} He played ] as a ] on the West Point ], which won the annual ] in all four years that he played.<ref name="West Point" /> His class graduated early, on 20 April 1917, due to the ]. He was ranked 33rd in the class of April 1917 and was commissioned as a ] in the ].{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} Butler entered West Point on 14 June 1913.{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} He played ] as a ] on the West Point ], which won the annual ] in all four years that he played.<ref name="West Point" /> His class graduated early, on 20 April 1917, due to the ]. He was ranked 33rd in the class of April 1917 and was commissioned as a ] in the ].{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}}


Promoted to ] on 15 May 1917, Butler joined the 6th Field Artillery Regiment in ], on 12 June. The regiment formed part of the ] of the ] (AEF), which departed for France on 28 July. While en route, Butler was promoted to the temporary rank of ] (temporary) in the ] on 5 August.{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} Promoted to ] on 15 May 1917, Butler joined the 6th Field Artillery Regiment in ], on 12 June. The regiment formed part of the ] of the ] (AEF), which departed for France on 28 July. While en route, Butler was promoted to the temporary rank of ] (temporary) in the ] on 5 August.{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}}


From 1 September to 15 October, Butler underwent ] in ], France. He went to the Lorraine front, where he was an observer with the 73rd Balloon Company from 1 to 20 November. This was followed by duty at the training center at ]. He returned to the front on 22 December as aerial observer with the French 91st Balloon Company west of ]. He was cited for exceptionally meritorious and efficient service by {{lang|fr|]}} {{ill|Fénelon François Germain Passaga|fr}}, the commander the {{ill|32e corps d'armée (France)|fr|lt=French XXXII Army Corps}}, and was awarded the French ]. On 1 March 1918, Butler retured to the AEF as the commander of Company B, 2nd Balloon Squadron.<ref name="USAF" />{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} From 1 September to 15 October, Butler underwent ] in ], France. He went to the Lorraine front, where he was an observer with the French 73rd Balloon Company from 1 to 20 November. This was followed by duty at the training center at ]. He returned to the front on 22 December as aerial observer with the French 91st Balloon Company west of ]. He was cited for exceptionally meritorious and efficient service by {{lang|fr|]}} {{ill|Fénelon François Germain Passaga|fr}}, the commander the {{ill|32e corps d'armée (France)|fr|lt=French XXXII Army Corps}}, and was awarded the French ]. On 1 March 1918, Butler retured to the AEF as the commander of Company B, 2nd Balloon Squadron.<ref name="USAF" />{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}}


Butler returned to the United States in July 1918 and became an instructor at the U.S. Army Balloon School at ] with the rank of ] in ] from 17 August 1918.<ref name="USAF" />{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}} Butler returned to the United States in July 1918 and became an instructor at the U.S. Army Balloon School at ] with the rank of ] in ] from 17 August 1918.<ref name="USAF" />{{sfn|Cullum|1920|p=1874}}

Revision as of 21:15, 2 December 2024

William Ormond Butler
As commander of Company B, 2nd Balloon Squadron, in Forêt de la Reine [fr], France, July 1918
Nickname(s)Bruce
Born(1895-09-23)23 September 1895
Marshall, Virginia, U.S.
Died29 October 1962(1962-10-29) (aged 67)
Alamo, California, U.S.
BuriedMarshall Cemetery, Marshall, Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch
Years of service1917–1946
RankMajor General
Commands
Battles / wars
Awards

William Ormond "Bruce" Butler (23 September 1895 – 19 August 1978) was a United States Army Air Force majorgeneral. He graduated from the United States Military Academy Field ArtilleryWest Point, New York, in April 1917 and was commissioned in the Infantry Branch. After service on the Western Front in World War I, he transferred to the United States Army Air Corps in 1920. During World War II, he commanded the Eleventh Air Force in Alaska.

Early life

William Ormond "Bruce" Butler was born in Marshall, Virginia, on 23 September 1895, the son of Robert Ormond Butler, an engineer, and Mary McGeorge née Hume. They returned to Mary's ancestral home in Marshall for the birth of each of their three children. The family was living in Marietta, Ohio, where Butler's father was engaged in the construction of a new dam, when Butler heard that Congressman George White was conducting examinations for entry to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Butler passed the examination and secured an alternative appointment, and ultimately secured an admission.

World War I

Butler entered West Point on 14 June 1913. He played American football as a lineman on the West Point Cadets football team, which won the annual Army–Navy Game in all four years that he played. His class graduated early, on 20 April 1917, due to the American entry into World War I. He was ranked 33rd in the class of April 1917 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment.

Promoted to First Lieutenant on 15 May 1917, Butler joined the 6th Field Artillery Regiment in Douglas, Arizona, on 12 June. The regiment formed part of the First Expeditionary Division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), which departed for France on 28 July. While en route, Butler was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain (temporary) in the Field Artillery Branch on 5 August.

From 1 September to 15 October, Butler underwent aerial observer in Valdahon, France. He went to the Lorraine front, where he was an observer with the French 73rd Balloon Company from 1 to 20 November. This was followed by duty at the training center at Gondrecourt-le-Château. He returned to the front on 22 December as aerial observer with the French 91st Balloon Company west of Toul. He was cited for exceptionally meritorious and efficient service by Général de division Fénelon François Germain Passaga [fr], the commander the French XXXII Army Corps [fr], and was awarded the French Croix de guerre 1914–1918. On 1 March 1918, Butler retured to the AEF as the commander of Company B, 2nd Balloon Squadron.

Butler returned to the United States in July 1918 and became an instructor at the U.S. Army Balloon School at Lee Hall, Virginia with the rank of major in Air Service from 17 August 1918.

Between the wars

In November 1919 he was transferred to Camp Pike, Ark., where he served with the 10th Field Artillery. He entered the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla., in January 1920 and graduated in December of that year.

Death and legacy

His papers are held by the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date Reference
Second Lieutenant 6th Field Artillery Regiment 20 April 1917
First Lieutenant 6th Field Artillery Regiment 15 May 1917
Captain (temporary) Field Artillery 5 August 1917
Major Air Service 17 August 1918
Captain Field Artillery 25 August 1919
Captain (reverted) Field Artillery 13 February 1920
Major Air Corps 1 August 1932
Lieutenant Colonel (temporary) Air Corps 26 August 1936
Lieutenant Colonel Air Corps 1 June 1940
Colonel (temporary) Air Corps 16 October 1940
Colonel Army of the United States 11 December 1941
Brigadier General Army of the United States 14 March 1942
Major General Army of the United States 25 October 1942
Major General Retired 31 January 1946

Notes

  1. ^ "Major General William O. Butler > Air Force > Biography Display". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  2. ^ "William Ormond Butler". Assembly. XXII (1): 103–104. ISSN 1041-2581. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  3. ^ Cullum 1920, p. 1874.
  4. "Butler, William Ormond Papers (l942–1943)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  5. ^ Cullum 1930, p. 1186.
  6. ^ Cullum 1940, p. 327.
  7. ^ Cullum 1950, p. 225.

References


Category:1895 births Category:1962 deaths Category:Military personnel from Virginia Category:People from Marshall, Virginia Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:Air Corps Tactical School alumni Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

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