Butler B. Miltonberger
Butler Buchanan Miltonberger | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Butts[1] |
Born | August 31, 1897 North Platte, Nebraska |
Died | March 23, 1977 North Platte, Nebraska | (aged 79)
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1916 - 1947 |
Rank | Major general |
Unit | Nebraska Army National Guard |
Commands held | 134th Infantry Regiment Chief of the National Guard Bureau |
Battles/wars | Mexican Border Campaign World War I World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (3) |
Butler Buchanan Miltonberger (August 31, 1897 – March 23, 1977) was a United States Army major general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Early years[]
Butler Buchanan Miltonberger was born in North Platte, Nebraska, on August 31, 1897, the son of Ira L. Miltonberger and Jennie (Buchanan) Miltonberger. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1916 and enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard. Miltonberger was mobilized during the Mexican Border Campaign.[2]
World War I[]
During World War I, Miltonberger fought in the Argonne region with the 4th Infantry Division, and attained the rank of First Sergeant.[3]
Post World War I[]
On May 12, 1923, Miltonberger was commissioned a First Lieutenant. He was promoted to captain on November 10, 1923 as commander of Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment. The regiment trained in Nebraska and at out of state locations including Fort Ord and Camp San Luis Obispo in California, Camp Butner in North Carolina, and Camp Rucker in Alabama.[4]
As a civilian, he worked in North Platte as a postman, and was also employed in road and bridge surveying and construction.[5]
Miltonberger was promoted to Major on January 14, 1933. In June 1935 his unit was mobilized in response to an ongoing dispute between labor and management at the Omaha Traction Company and a flood on the Republican River.[6]
In 1939, he single-handedly captured Willard Brucks, an escaped killer from Ohio who had broken into the Omaha armory to seize weapons.[7] Miltonberger was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1940.
World War II[]
At the beginning of World War II, Miltonberger was promoted to colonel as commander of the 134th Infantry Regiment. He led his regiment throughout France, including Morhange, Vire, Alsace, Saint-Lô, Geilenkirchen, Bastogne, Mortain, Nancy, Sarreguemines, and the Elbe River.[8][9]
In February, 1945 Miltonberger was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as assistant division commander of the 35th Division.[10] In November, 1945 he returned to the United States and remained on active duty at the War Department.
Chief of National Guard Bureau[]
In 1946 President Harry S. Truman, a fellow veteran of the 35th Division, nominated Miltonberger to be Chief of the National Guard Bureau as a major general.[11] As Chief Miltonberger worked to reorganize the National Guard following its mobilization for World War II, including the formation of the Air National Guard.[12] Miltonberger became ill and entered the hospital in December 1946, and later retired from active duty military service in September 1947 because of poor health.[13][14]
Later career[]
After his retirement, Miltonberger returned to Nebraska. He resided in North Platte and Lincoln, and was employed by the Nebraska State Engineer.[15]
In 1950 he became Chairman of the "Miltonberger Board", which consisted of current and former National Guard officers and was empowered to review the National Guard's organizational structure, internal policies and operational procedures, and make recommendations for long term improvements.[16][17]
Death and burial[]
Miltonberger, who had suffered from long-term lung problems, died in North Platte on March 23, 1977 at the age of 79 after suffering complications from surgery to repair a broken hip suffered in a fall.[18] He was survived by his second wife, Caroline, two daughters, Helen and Veatrice, and a son, Butler Jr. He is buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska.[19]
Awards and decorations[]
Miltonberger's awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, the French Croix de Guerre, the Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau, the Luxembourg War Cross and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Combat Infantryman Badge | ||||||||||||||||||
Army Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | ||||||||||||||||
Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters | Mexican Border Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal w/ Battle Clasp | Army of Occupation of Germany Medal | |||||||||||||||
American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five campaign stars | World War II Victory Medal | |||||||||||||||
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp | Chevalier of the Legion of Honour | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm | Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords |
References[]
- ^ Nebraska State Historical Society, Butler B. Miltonberger Papers, Biography, Butler B. Miltonberger, accessed April 22, 2013
- ^ Nebraska State Historical Society, Butler B. Miltonberger Papers, Biography, Butler B. Miltonberger, accessed April 22, 2013
- ^ Nebraska Studies.org, Nebraskans on the Front Lines, 1925-1949, Profile, Burler B. Miltonberger, accessed April 22, 2013
- ^ Nebraska Adjutant -General, Biennial Report, 1927, page 48
- ^ Nebraska Press Association, 900 Famous Nebraskans, Entry for Butler B. Miltonberger Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 22, 2013
- ^ Butler B. Miltonberger, James A. Huston, 134th Infantry Regiment: Combat History of World War II 1946, Chapter 1
- ^ Associated Press, St. Petersburg Times, Insane Convict Seized During Armory Battle, January 9, 1939
- ^ Albert Love Enterprises, Presenting the 35th Infantry Division in World War II, 1941-1945, 1946
- ^ Matthew Hansen, Omaha World-Herald, The WWII Battle of St. Lo, July 3, 2009
- ^ Dwight David Eisenhower, The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower: The War Years, Volume IV, 1970, page 2500
- ^ Associated Press, Miami News, Nebraskan Named Guard Bureau Head, January 16, 1946
- ^ Associated Press, Reading Eagle, 93 National Guard Units Meet U.S. Test: Recognition Extended for Reorganization, October 21, 1946
- ^ National Guard Bureau, Annual report, 1947, page 60
- ^ New York Times, Guard Losing Gen. Miltonberger, June 27, 1947
- ^ Tom Mooney, nebraska State Historical Society, The Military Career of Butler B. Miltonberger Archived 2012-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, August 5, 2011
- ^ Charles Joseph Gross, Prelude to the Total Force: Air National Guard, 1943-1969, 1984, page 49
- ^ Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, New Board Named to Reorganize National Guard, February 26, 1950
- ^ New York Times, Butler B. Miltonberger, Ex-National Guard Chief, March 25, 1977
- ^ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nationwide Gravesite Locator, entry for Butler B. Miltonberger, accessed April 22, 2013
External links[]
- Butler B. Miltonberger papers at the Nebraska State Historical Society
- Nebraska Military Department records at the Nebraska State Historical Society
- Miltonberger, Butler B. and Huston, James, 134th Infantry History. Gering, Nebraska: Currior Press, 1950.
- "'All Hell' Couldn't Stop Miltonberger", North Platte Telegraph-Bulletin, September 17, 1973.
- Fort McPherson National Cemetery
- Butler B. Miltonberger at Find A Grave, accessed April 22, 2013
- 1897 births
- 1977 deaths
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- United States Army generals
- National Guard of the United States generals
- People from North Platte, Nebraska
- Burials at Fort McPherson National Cemetery
- Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
- Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau