Ranger Infantry Company of the Korean War

Ranger Hall of Fame

MASTER SERGEANT WILLIAM BUTLER

Master Sergeant William E. Butler is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his extraordinary valor, and 43-years of dedicated service to this nation as a Ranger. Master Sergeant Butler’s dedication to his country began in 1946 when he attended basic infantry training and lasted through 1989, when he performed his last jump at the age of 59. He has mentored and trained Ranger troops during peacetime and war, as well as performing acts of valor while engaging the enemy in combat. During his first two tours in the Korean War, MSG Butler was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Purple Heart. His fire team spotted an enemy element trying to cut off the unit’s line of withdrawal. He moved his team to a more effective position and brought the platoon-size enemy element under automatic fire. Though wounded twice in the engagement, then, Corporal Butler moved from position-to-position to direct accurate fire upon the enemy. Disregarding enemy fire and his own safety, Corporal Butler directed air-support upon the enemy element until they broke contact and fled. He then led his small fire team out of the enemy area to safety. During training for Vietnam at Fort Benning, he was awarded the Soldiers Medal when he saved a soldier from drowning during a river crossing exercise. While in Vietnam he was awarded his second Silver Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Purple Heart. His team spotted two enemy soldiers moving in the area. After an hour and half of observation, the enemy element increased in size to over thirty troops. Suddenly the enemy soldiers moved into an assault formation and began advancing toward the five-man team. As the hostile troops began firing, then Sergeant Butler disregarding the enemy fusillade, opened fire with his rifle. Though wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade, he maneuvered forward to effectively engage an enemy rocket-propelled grenade team. An accurate burst from Sergeant Butler’s rifle hit and detonated one of the grenades, killing both members of the enemy weapons team. His devotion to the Rangers would bring him to take a voluntary administrative reduction in rank in order to remain the Operations Sergeant for the LRS detachment that he organized and trained in 1986. His legendary career goes to the heart of the Ranger Creed and is an inspiration to all past, present, and future Rangers.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!!