Henry W. Butner

Henry Wolfe Butner was born in the Pinnacle community of Surry County, North Carolina[2] on April 6, 1875 to Francis Augustine and Sarah Wolfe Butner. He came from a family rich in military tradition, including service in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Butner attended the Davis Military School near Winston-Salem before taking the entrance exam at West Point in June 1894. He graduated 18th of 109 in the West Point class of 1898.[3][4] Butner received the rank of second lieutenant upon his graduation.[5]

Butner was sent to the 3rd Artillery Regiment's Battery E, stationed at Fort Point, San Francisco. He served with the unit from 29 May to 8 December 1898. He was transferred to the Presidio on 8 December and on 28 January 1899 to Alcatraz Island. In the spring of that year Butner transferred to Fort Baker. In June, Butner transferred to the regiment's Battery F. On 1 July, he was reassigned to Fort Riley and the regiment's light battery. On 1 July 1900, Butner was transferred to the 6th Battery, Field Artillery. He stated at Fort Riley until 4 December, when he became commander of a recruit detachment and was sent to Cuba. On 2 February 1901, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Butner returned to the United States on 5 February 1901 and was sent back to the 6th Battery. Butner was promoted to captain on 23 September.[5]

On 24 October 1901, Butner became commander of the 122nd Company of the Coast Artillery at Fort Columbus. The unit moved to Key West Barracks on 4 October 1902. Butner was sent to the Staff College at Fort Leavenworth on 13 July 1905, graduating on 26 July 1906. He became a camp instructor at Fort Riley, and on 29 September transferred to Fort Flagler. In 1907, Butner returned to the Field Artillery and on 19 July became adjutant of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment at Fort D.A. Russell. On 10 February 1909, the regiment began its transfer to Fort McKinley. Butner also served at Camp Gregg, Camp Stotsenburg, and Manila while in the Philippines until 14 April 1911. In May 1911, he became commander of the 2nd Artillery's F Battery at Vancouver Barracks. On 10 September he became a student at the School of Fire, attending it until 25 February 1912. Butner became quartermaster of the Fort Leavenworth Military Prison, being stationed there until 11 December. He transferred to Fort Riley and became commander of D Battery there.[5]

On 20 April 1914, Butner was detached to lead a battery in Brownsville, Texas. He served at Leon Springs, Texas from 14 August to 13 November. He returned to Brownsville and was stationed there until 17 May 1915. From then to 6 August Butner was at Laredo, Texas. From 6 August to 28 October he was at Nogales, Arizona. Between 28 October and 25 November, Butner served at Douglas, Arizona. He returned to Nogales from 25 November to 10 December, then went back to Douglas until 2 November 1916. On 1 July 1916, he was promoted to major. He was ordered to Hawaii[4] and stationed at Schofield Barracks.[5]

He was promoted to Lieutenant colonel on 15 May 1917. Butner returned from Schofield Barracks on 14 December. He served with the 16th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill. On 5 August, he became a temporary colonel. Butner and his regiment began their voyage to France on 21 May 1918. Between 5 and 17 August Butner fought in operations on the Vesle front. He participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel between 2 and 13 September. On 1 October, he became a temporary brigadier general and took command of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade.[3][4] The brigade supported I Corps in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.[6] Between 1 October and 9 November, he led the brigade in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Butner was commander of the brigade until 12 November. He was sent to the Coblenz Bridgehead with the Third Army for occupation duties, arriving on 15 December. On 26 May 1919, Butner returned to the United States.[5]

On 15 July, Butner reverted to his permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. On 28 September, he became a colonel. After World War I, Butner attended the U.S. Army War College and graduated in June 1920. He became assistant commandant of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. On 1 July 1922, Butner became commandant of the school.[3] On 3 January 1923 he became assistant commandant of the school again. On 3 July 1924, Butner transferred to Fort Bragg and became commander of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment. On 15 August 1925, he was ordered to the Philippines, arriving at Camp Stotsenburg on 15 December. Butner became commander of the 24th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts. He commanded the regiment until 5 December 1927.[5]

Butner was sent back to the United States and became president of the Field Artillery Board at Fort Bragg in February 1928. At the same time, he commanded the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. Between 1928 and 1929, he commanded Fort Bragg.[1] On 7 March 1930, he became a brigadier general. On 29 March 1930 Butner transferred to the Air Corps Tactical School. From 26 April, he was a student at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe. On 24 May he became commander of Fort Eustis,[4] a post he held until 4 August. Butner was transferred to Hawaii to lead the 11th Field Artillery Brigade at Schofield Barracks from 24 October. Butner remained commander until 4 October 1932.[5] On 10 October 1932, he returned to the United States and became commander of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Lewis. After 1 August 1934 he became commandant of the Field Artillery School. Butner also commanded the 4th Field Artillery Brigade for most of this time. On 1 February 1936, he was promoted to major general. In July 1936, he became commander of the Panama Canal Department,[7] which was his last command.[4][5]

He received the Army Distinguished Service Medal in 1920 for his actions in World War I in command of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade.[8] Butner was also awarded the Silver Star Citation for "distinguished conduct during operations at Mouzen, and subsequent advance on Sedan, November 5–7, 1918." He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm.[5]

Butner had a slight stroke while playing golf in December 1936, and was sent to Walter Reed Army Hospital, where he died on 13 March 1937.[3] Butner was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.[9]

In 1944, a ship was named after him.[2] Camp Butner near Durham, North Carolina—today the site of the town of Butner, North Carolina—was named for him.[10]

USS General H. W. Butner (AP-113) was launched in 1944.

• USMA Class of 1898 Biographies by Susan Linnerud