[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS J. BUTTERFIELD

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I wish today to commemorate Francis 
James Butterfield's 92nd birthday and pay tribute to his remarkable 
life.
  Francis, who was born on November 2, 1920, to Millard E. and Margaret 
C. Payne Butterfield in Franklin County, NE, has led a positive life of 
dedicated service. His devotion to his country started early. His 
mother was active in the women's suffrage movement and looked forward 
to voting for the first time. Margaret was in labor with Francis on 
election day and braved the labor pains to cast her ballot before 
giving birth to Francis. As Francis describes it, ``So, that's how I 
got here--my Mom voted first, then she went home and had me.''
  This dedication and resolve runs deep in Francis. He grew up during 
the Great Depression in a happy, resourceful, and grateful family 
despite the challenges. He helped with his two brothers' mechanic 
operation and worked retail sales before volunteering for the U.S. Army 
in 1942. He completed Officer Candidate School and served in the 
Pacific Theater during World War II. He was assigned to an Amphibian 
Tractor Battalion that served in Okinawa. He also served as a Tank 
Destroyer Unit commander and rose to the rank of captain before his 
honorable discharge from Active Duty in 1946. The military honors he 
earned for his service to our Nation include the American Theater 
Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and World War II Victory 
Medal. He continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves until his 
honorable discharge from Reserve service in 1953.
  On October 18, 1959, Francis married Doris Jo Runge, and they were 
blessed with two daughters: Georgia Jo and Virginia Jo. Francis had a 
23-year career with the U.S. Postal Service. He served as a mail 
carrier, and he walked 25-30 miles per day delivering mail in Sidney, 
NE. Since Doris' passing in 1998, Francis spends time traveling to 
visit his family, including his daughters and granddaughter, Aleah. His 
daughters keep him busy fixing things, and he also enjoys shopping.
  Francis is a positive, outgoing, friendly, and patriotic American. He 
is a problem solver with a ``can do'' spirit who does not let 
challenges get in his way. I commend him for his example of optimism 
and devotion and wish him great happiness.

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