Butler B. Miltonberger

Butler Buchanan Miltonberger
Miltonberger as a Major General.
Nickname(s)	Butts[1]
Born	August 31, 1897 North Platte, Nebraska
Died	March 23, 1977(1977-03-23) (aged 79) North Platte, Nebraska
Place of burial	Fort McPherson National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	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 Battle of Normandy Battle of the Bulge
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.

References[]

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