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James Edward Butler
Chief Warrant Officer 2
199TH AVN CO, 214TH AVN BN, 164TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV Army of the United States Buies Creek, North Carolina June 13, 1936 to July 17, 1978 (Incident Date March 20, 1970) JAMES E BUTLER is on the Wall at Panel W12, Line 24 |
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When tomorrow starts without me, |
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In July of 2003, I came here to this special site and left a message that I was going to paint a picture of Scarlett O' Hara and dedicate it to the memory of James E. Butler, a soldier whom I never knew but felt we had something in common ... the poem he wrote before he died. I painted my 24 x 36 inch picture which was an Acryllic of Scarlett in her white dress covered in a green leafy pattern, and I entered it into my County Fair. Fairs have a way of letting you know when you do something not to their liking....and in this case, I won no ribbons for my picture. The reason - copyright laws on this picture prevented me from seeing how far we could go in this year's contest. All the judges would do was to acknowledge its entry but not consider it come time for the judging of the pictures. The picture was VERY good. :) But that's okay. I said to myself that I would not let this soldier down and I didn't. I painted this grand portrait of Scarlett O'Hara, and the picture is dedicated to James Butler, a soldier, and is dedicated to all those who suffer the pains of war. It hangs, proudly and beautifully, on my wall of green. It is the best thing I've ever painted in my life.
The title of the picture was "Thoughts of Home".
From a supporter of the U.S. Military in New Jersey. |
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Warrant Officer Butler was known to us fellow Warrant Officer Candidates as "Pappy Butler". He was older than most of us kids. I was assigned to the 221st RAC also in the Mekong Delta and spent many hours in my O-1 Bird Dog searching in vain for Pappy. I think of him often, even to this day. He was a "hoot" to be around.
From a flight School mate, |
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I wore James Butler's MIA bracelet for years and just found this site on the internet. For his family, I am relieved that there is closure in finding his remains, along with the sadness that he will not be coming home. A number of events have occurred in the last month that have brought me back to memories of the Vietman Era and friends who are not with us any more. Thank you to his family for sharing him with the rest of us. Let there be peace, love and happiness in your home today.
Vicki Lash |
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I was a sophmore in high school on a field trip to Washington D.C. when I got the bracelet that bears CWO Butler's name. That was 15 years ago, and it has only left my wrist twice for two operations. I have always been proud to wear it and had always said I would remove it when his remains were found. But now I have decided that I will continue to wear it to honor him. And from now on, when anyone asks me about it (as they often do), I will tell them that he has been recovered and he is now home. A hero is never forgotten.
Amanda M. Burton |
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I still wear my bracelet bearing CWO James E. Butler's name. I got it after I graduated from High School in 1972. I just decided to search the net to see if he had been found and saw this tribute. I am so glad he is home with his family! I will continue to wear my bracelet as a tribute to him and all of the others that we lost.
Marjorie Wheeler |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn March 20, 1970, Captain Robert G. Cozart, pilot, and WO James E. Butler departed Vinh Long, South Vietnam aboard an O-1G (serial #51-12899) at 1016 hours on a visual reconnaissance mission over Vinh Binh Province with a stop at the Province capitol of Phu Vinh. At 1028 hours, a radio transmission was received from WO Butler advising the Team 72 Tactical Operations Center that they were airborne and en route to Tra Vinh. This was the last communication with the crew. The aircraft never landed at Tra Vinh.Upon receiving notification that the aircraft was missing, a province-wide search was initiated. All immediate search efforts were unsuccessful. Vietnamese civilians, however, reported that an aircraft had been downed in the vicinity of Tra Vinh. Local forces with U.S. advisors, U.S. troops, coastal patrol boats and light aircraft conducted extensive search efforts from March 20 through March 27 but without success. The tail section of the aircraft was finally recovered and identified October 23, 1970. In 1989 the Vietnamese government turned over a large number of human remains believed to be those of American servicemen. On August 1, 1989, the US announced the positive identification of Captain Cozart's remains, but WO Butler remained among the missing. However, on 4 September 1997, WO Butler's remains were positively identified and returned to his family for burial in Lillington, NC, next to his father.
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