[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1495-E1496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE MILITARY SERVICE OF LELAND CALVIN BUTLER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2019

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Leland Calvin 
``L.C.'' Butler, a 96 year old World War II veteran of the United 
States Marine Corps, for his service to our great nation.
  L.C. Butler was born in Temple, Texas on July 19, 1923 to Ann Patton 
Butler. His family moved to Houston in 1932. On August 19, 1942, Mr. 
Butler enlisted in the United States Marines Corps in San Antonio, 
Texas. He attended boot camp in San Diego, California for seven weeks, 
training one week at the firing range, and two months in Imperial 
Valley, California learning how to operate the ``big guns.''
  A new anti-aircraft battalion was formed and L.C. became part of the 
2nd Airdrome Battalion, which later became the 17th Defense Battalion. 
Butler's battalion's assignment was to provide anti-aircraft defense to 
airstrips secured by Allied Forces and to protect them after they were 
secured. As a result, he did not see as much fighting as many of his 
friends. Butler considers their assignment the luck of the draw.
  Butler's division was sent to the Nukufetau Atoll where he served 
until the summer of 1944. After Nukufetau, his battalion was sent to 
Kauai for a short rest. In late summer of 1944, Mr. Butler boarded a 
ship to Tinian. He remained on the ship for approximately 60 days until 
the island was secured. Once Tinian was taken Butler's battalion moved 
ashore and used their anti-aircraft guns to protect the air strips from 
further attacks.
  Toward the end of their deployment they discovered the Enola Gay was 
stationed on Tinian Island. This B-29 Superfortress became the first 
airplane to drop an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945 over Hiroshima, 
Japan. L.C. and his battalion were on a ship heading back to the United 
States when the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The 
dropping of both atomic bombs expedited the end of World War II.
  The Marines were sent to San Diego and quarantined for two weeks 
because First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt felt it necessary due to outbreaks 
of different ailments while they were stationed on various Pacific 
islands. L.C. said she wasn't very popular with the Marines at that 
time, but that they were treated well during the two weeks.
  L.C. Butler returned home to Houston, Texas the first week in 
September 1945 and married Dorothy Nell Corgey on September 7, 1945. 
Mr. and Mrs. Butler took one thousand dollars that L.C. won during a 
poker game on the ship back to the United States and stayed in a hotel 
in downtown Houston for a month for their honeymoon.
  Following their honeymoon, the Butlers went to Corpus Christi for 
about three weeks. There

[[Page E1496]]

he was honorably discharged from the United States Marines Corps on 
October 25, 1945. From the age of nineteen, L.C.'s life motto, has been 
``Once a Marine, Always a Marine.''
  L.C. and Dorothy were married for 62 years until she passed away on 
April 11, 2008. They have two daughters, Lynn B. Lucas and Debra 
Westberry, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one great-
great grandchild and another great grandchild on the way.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Butler for his selfless service to this 
great nation.

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