A Note from The Virtual Wall
SP5 Butts was one of three men from the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, killed in action on 15 May 1967:
- SP5 Lonnie R. Butts, Oneonta, AL (Dist Svc Cross), HQ Company (medic with B/1/327)
- PFC Neil E. Bateman, Cheektowaga, NY, B Company
- PFC Stephen T. Jarras, Worcester, MA, HQ Company
The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
to
LONNIE R. BUTTS
SPECIALIST 5
United States Army
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Specialist Five Butts distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 May 1967 while serving as senior medical aidman during a search and destroy mission near Duc Pho. When the lead element of his unit became pinned down by machine gun fire, Specialist Butts executed a flanking movement on the hostile emplacement and silenced the two Viet Cong who were manning it. He continued forward, moving from one emplacement to another and drove the enemy back with hand grenades and machine gun fire. One insurgent threw a grenade between Specialist Butts and his platoon sergeant. Taking no heed of his own safety, he threw himself between the sergeant and the grenade, catching most of the shrapnel in his legs. Although he was seriously wounded, Specialist Butts went to the assistance of another casualty and treated his wounds. During the remainder of the firefight, he refused medical attention until all of the other wounded men were treated. Specialist Butts was mortally wounded as he moved toward a helicopter for evacuation. Specialist Five Butts' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Unites States Army.
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Visit John Dennison's
Medics on the Wall
memorial which honors the
Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.
Lonnie R. Butts,
Specialist 5, United States Army,
recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross,
is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Oneonta, Alabama.
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