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Henry Wallace Butler was born on 4 October 1932 in
Leominister, MA, to Ernest and Marguerite Ada Grimes Butler. In 1933, the family
moved to Greenville, NH. In 1941, they moved to Newport, RI, retaining New
Hampshire as their legal residence. Hank’s father was a machinist employed as an
engineman 1st class at Torpedo Station in Newport. Hank came from a family of
eight, having three younger brothers and two younger sisters.
In 1950, Hank graduated from Rogers High School in Newport, where
he was a lieutenant colonel and battalion commander in ROTC. He excelled in
academics and was voted most school spirited by his classmates. He received an
at-large principal appointment to West Point from Senator Charles W. Tobey of
New Hampshire, fulfilling a boyhood dream. Hank reported to the Military Academy
on 5 July 1950, the second youngest plebe in Company G-2.
Hank was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints; the
Mormon Church doubtlessly played a meaningful role in his life. Academics seemed
to come easy to Hank, and he generously helped others with study problems. He
ran indoor and outdoor track on the Corps squads, but his first passion was
cross country. He ran for four years with the B Squad team. Hank’s
extracurricular interest included the Glee Club, Chess Club, Cadet Chapel Choir,
Mathematics Forum, and English Literature Seminar. Gradewise, he was often a
“star man” and graduated on 8 Jun 1954 in the top 10 percent of his class.
Upon graduation, Hank was commissioned as a second lieutenant in
the Signal Corps. He completed the Officers Basic Course at Ft. Monmouth, NJ,
and earned his jump wings at the Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His
first duty assignment was platoon leader with the 313th Signal Battalion at Ft.
George G. Meade, MD. In December 1955, he was a company executive officer in
the 25th Signal Battalion, Ft. Devens, MA. The unit deployed to Karlsruhe,
Germany in March 1956. In February 1957, Hank was assigned as Signal Officer
with the 505th Airborne Battle Group of the 11th Airborne Division in Augsburg,
Germany. In September 1957, he was assigned as a platoon leader in A Company,
511th Signal Battalion, of the 11th Airborne Division.
Hank returned to Ft. Monmouth in September 1959 to attend the
Signal Corps Officers Advanced Course. In May 1960 he enrolled at Pennsylvania
State University, earning a master of science degree in physics in June 1962. He
then reported to the West Point physics department, where he became an assistant
professor. While teaching, he pursued advanced studies in physics and
mathematics at New York University. In July 1965, he was assigned as S2/3 with
the 122d Signal Battalion, 2d Infantry Division at Camp Howze, Korea. In August
1966, he was assigned to Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, in Seoul, Korea ,where
he was Chief of Operations in the Office of the Signal Officer, managing major
communications projects.
In June 1968, Hank declined promotion to lieutenant colonel. In
August 1968 he resigned from the Army to enter the Civil Service as Chief of
Plans and Training Branch with the STRATCOM Signal Brigade, Korea. In January
1970, he became deputy chief of the Signal Brigade and in June 1971, chief, U.S.
Army Communications Systems Agency Sub-Office, Korea. In December 1973, his
position was moved to Pacific Field Office, U.S. Army Communications Systems
Agency, at Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, HI. On 1 July 1975, he assumed the duties
of chief, Pacific Field Office, U.S. Army Communications Systems Agency, holding
the position until his death in 1979.
During the course of his careers, Hank was awarded the Army
Commendation Medal three times and Outstanding Performance Reports four times.
Hank completed the Personnel Management for Executives course, the Industrial
College of the Armed Forces National Security Management course, and the
University of Hawaii Advanced Management program.
Hank married Chang Joo Chung (married name: June Anne Butler) in
Seoul, Korea, in 1968, and they moved to Hawaii in 1973. They had one son and
two daughters. Because of Hank’s example, June became a Christian and now
teaches Bible classes.
From his youth to life’s end, Hank valued education. He strove to
be the best he could be and sought opportunities to improve. He was
intellectually curious in diverse fields. A quick read, he was brainy in signal
communications and electronics and driven to achieve perfection - professionally
and personally. Wherever he resided, he studied the culture and language. He was
fluent in Korean and could read and write in the language. He also studied
Chinese.
Family life assumed Hank’s top priority; he spent a great amount
of quality time with his wife and children, teaching them some of his hobbies
and joys, such as solving puzzles, knitting, sewing, crocheting, and building
furniture, enjoying the beaches, nurturing and expanding their education. An
avid and accomplished bowler, he carried a 240 average! Hank also loved to
entertain his friends and coworkers at his home!
Hank taught his children to set high standards and have high
expectations. Accordingly, the wonderful examples he set for his children helped
propel his daughter Marguerite to earn a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology at
Washington University in St. Louis and to become an Assistant Professor in
Zoology at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. His son Henry, Jr., is a
talented, gifted mechanic with the State of Hawaii Housing Authority, and his
daughter Suzanne Lee is a successful small business owner and esthetician. Hank
left an impressive professional and personal legacy.
Sadly, Hank was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1979. He fought
tenaciously but eventually succumbed. He is survived by his wife June Anne
Butler, his son Henry W. Butler Jr., his daughters and sons-in-laws Marguerite
Butler Higa and Jeffrey Higa, Suzanne Butler Lee and Andrew Lee, and
granddaughter Raine Higa.
Faith, family, and friends were the bright lights in Hank’s life.
He exercised patience, a positive attitude, and perseverance, and he was guided
by a strong sense of Duty, Honor, Country.
—Ed Pawlowski ’54, roommate
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