Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Edward J. Butcher (MCSN: 0-37508), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company A, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 21 May 1945. Although attacking far in advance of friendly lines when his tank was disabled by a land mine, Second Lieutenant Butcher coolly supervised the repair of the vehicle and continued the attack. When, shortly thereafter, his tank was again disabled by an enemy mine, the explosion of which wounded him and the other crew members, he directed the evacuation of the wounded crewmen to another tank and, refusing evacuation himself, returned to his vehicle and manned its machine guns in order to lend all available fire support to the attack. Despite constant hostile small-arms, mortar and artillery fire, he remained alone with his tank for a period of more than five hours and fired its guns. In addition to lending fire support to the attack, he annihilated many Japanese personnel who attempted to destroy his tank by placing explosives against it, and finally, under cover of darkness, abandoned the vehicle and returned to friendly lines carrying much of his tank’s valuable equipment with him. By his cool courage under fire, Second Lieutenant Butcher served as a constant source of inspiration to his men, and his unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Awards Received