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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Olin J. Butterfield (MCSN: 83937), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 77th Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near St. Etienne, France, 3 October 1918. When our advance infantry was forced to withdraw, Corporal Butterfield’s machine-gun crew refused to withdraw, but calmly set up their machine gun. The gun was upset by a bursting hand grenade, which also injured Corporal Butterfield and another member of the squad. Despite their injuries, they immediately reset the gun and opened fire on the advancing Germans when twenty feet distant, causing the Germans to break and retreat in disorder.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    6th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Regiment:

    Sixth Regiment (Marines)

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 3, 1918
    War Department, General Orders No. 23 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Olin J. Butterfield (MCSN: 83937), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Seventy-Seventh Company, Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action near St. Etienne, France, 3 October 1918. When our advance infantry was forced to withdraw, Corporal Butterfield’s machine-gun crew refused to withdraw, but calmly set up their machine gun. The gun was upset by a bursting hand grenade, which also injured Corporal Butterfield and another member of the squad. Despite their injuries, they immediately reset the gun and opened fire on the advancing Germans when twenty feet distant, causing the Germans to break and retreat in disorder.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    6th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    November 11, 1918
    Citation Orders No. 88, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Olin J. Butterfield (MCSN: 83937), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Corporal Butterfield distinguished himself while serving with the 77th Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I.