Awards:  Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

BIOGRAPHY

John was the 5^th of 8 children of Otto Barton Butner 1894-1974 and Lottie Lee Larrick-Butner 1893-1946. John was a farmer before enlisting.

1. Daniel Morgan Butner 1916–1916
2. Warren Franklin Butner 1917-1987
3. Earmalee Butner 1918–1918
4. Imogene Butner 1918–1918
5. John M Butner(1920–1944)
6. Weldon Larrick Butner 1923-2006
7. Edward Lee Butner 1929-1991
8. Velma Arzelia Butner 1937-2016

John Butner went into the armed forces 5 January 1942 and received training at Fort Knox, Ky, Rice, California, Camp Pickett, Camp Polk and others.

He went overseas in September 1943, being stationed in England.

Sergeant Butner was with an armoured tank division and has been seen fighting through France since July 1944. The last letter from him was dated 30 August 1944, in it he said he was having “to work 48 hours a day”.

MIA 19 September 1944.

19 October 1944

Unknown X-41 buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Request for info.

21 January 1945

List of names, rank, serial number, present status and position occupied by crew members of M4 Tank. John Butner was the driver of the tank.

24 January 1945

Sworn statement of Leo P. Gatens, eyewitness: identifying John Butner.

16 + 17 February 1945

Identification of unknown X-41 through process of elimination.

Missing in action status from 19 Sept 1944 until 16 Feb 1945 when evidence considered sufficient to establish the fact of death was received by the Secretary of War from a commander in the European Area.

7 October 1945

The Gold Star citation is awarded to the next of surviving kin of John Butner.

Sunday, June 8, 1947 a Memorial Service was held for Gold Star Veterans of World War II.