#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Veteran Louis G. Buttell

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy and Marine Corps Veteran Louis G. Buttell, who served during World War II and the Korean War.

Louis Buttell was born and raised in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, New York, and graduated from Fordham Preparatory High School in 1944. Aware he would likely be drafted to fight in the Pacific, Buttell hoped to enlist with the Marine Corps before his 18th birthday. However, after his mother refused to give him permission, Buttell instead enlisted with the United States Navy in November 1944. There, he participated in the air crewman program. After basic training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee, he attended aviation radio school. After graduating, he went to officer training in the Navy’s V-12 program, which sent individuals to college before qualifying them as commissioned officers.

The Navy sent Buttell to Cornell University in June 1945, where he received one year of classes. By the time he completed his courses in 1946, World War II ended, meaning the Navy no longer needed new officers. As a result, the Navy discharged Buttell in 1946. After leaving, he attended Holy Cross College and joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 1948, Buttell chose the Marine Corps and commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1948. He served with the 14th Signal Company as a Marine Corps Reservist, stationed in Brooklyn, New York. During his time off duty, Buttell began working as a reporter for Newsweek Magazine.

Following the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the Marine Corps ordered Buttell to active duty. He went to Camp Pendleton, California, and Quantico, Virginia, for further combat training and infantry officer training. After completing his infantry officer training in Virginia, Buttell received his deployment orders and went to the city of Pohang in January 1951. Upon arriving, Buttell served with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

While in Korea, Buttell was responsible for leading a platoon of 48 Marines in the mountainous front-line terrain. His platoon engaged in heavy combat with the enemy and suffered significant casualties. During one battle, Buttell and his fellow Marines tried to take a mountain from the enemy. As they advanced, an enemy bunker blocked Buttell and his fellow Marines. Buttell and his platoon suffered several casualties before an air strike cleared the bunker.

The Marine Corps discharged Buttell in September 1951 at Treasure Island, California. From California, he returned to New York City and continued his career as a reporter for Newsweek Magazine.

Buttell attended the final reunion of the first Special Basic Class of 1950 in 2018.

More of his story can be found at: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.09845/

Thank you for your service!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Contributors

Editor: Vincent Tran

Fact checker: Tavia Wager

Graphic artist: Tenzin Chomphel