GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 372  1 Sept 1953

 

    AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL - By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, WD Bul 3, 1944), and pursuant to authority in AR 600-45, the Bronze Star Medal with Letter "V" device for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States is awarded to the following named enlisted men:

Corporal WILLIE D. BUTLER, US53135519, Infantry, Company "K", 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. During the early morning hours of 6 July 1953, Company "K" commenced to attack enemy held Hill "250" in the vicinity of Honu-Chon, Korea. The assault force passed over the first crest of the hill withoust incident, but as they started to advance up the second slope, the unit came under fire from enemy automatic weapons. Corporal BUTLER, an automatic rifleman, immediately returned the enemy's fire. In the ensuing action, his rapid and accurate fire mortally wounded two of the enemy, thereby neutralizing their positions. When the order was given to return to friendly lines, Corporal BUTLER, without regard for his personal safety, began to search the area for friendly casualties. He soon found two men lying close together in an exposed area. Braving the intense enemy mortar and artillery fire, Corporal BUTLER dragged them off the hill to the evacuation point. He turned his wounded comrades over to a waiting medical aidman who administered vitally needed first aid. Corporal BUTLER'S outstanding heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Alabama.

 Source: Record Group 338: General Orders 3rd Infantry Division, Boxes 129 to 131 - National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.