Northern Indiana VA recently had the honor of helping Lawrence Butler, a WWII Veteran, celebrate his 105th birthday. Butler was born Oct. 17, 1918, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Butler was an only child and joined the Army in 1939, serving in the First Armored Division, where he worked with tanks. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was getting ready to go home for the holidays when he learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“All furloughs were cancelled and duty would continue seven days a week,” he recalled.
Butler deployed overseas and participated in campaigns throughout North Africa and Italy. He served as a tank commander and a platoon commander. He earned two WWII campaign medals and a good conduct ribbon.
Secret for longevity: Walking and exercise
Butler was discharged in 1945. He returned home and started an international farm tractor implement business and ran it for 30 years. “The military taught me leadership. I had to learn to take charge, and it prepared me for things,” he said.
Butler lives independently. He has outlived three wives and has two daughters, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. When asked about his secret to longevity he replied, “Walking and exercise.”
Butler and his friend Betty are pictured above. Northern Indiana VA is honored to serve Butler and wishes him a very happy 105th birthday.
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Bravo Lawrence! I just turned 75 on October 15th of this year so you and I are almost exactly 30 years apart in age. I had a lot of family members who served in WWII. My Uncle Dale was in the Navy and actually drove one of the landing crafts that ferried troops to the Normandy beach head on D-Day, June 6, 1944 when he and you and the rest of the Allied invasion showed Hitler he done messed with the wrong people. My Uncle Dale served in the Merchant Marine and supported the war that way. My mother was a Combination Welder building Liberty Ships in the San Pedro Naval Shipyards (I call her Wendy the Welder}. She inhaled a lot of asbestos doing that and eventually died of asbestos-lung (mesothelioma) at a fairly young age.
I am an 80% disabled Vietnam Veteran who served with the 1st Air-Cav in 1968-69.
My hat is off to you and all the members of The Greatest Generation! A heartfelt Thanks goes out to you for all you’ve done for us.
Because of you Lawrence, I can look forward to my next 30 years!
PS: I hit the gym and work out on the ellipticals, treadmills, and weights every single day. Thanks for your extra motivation.