- SURNAME
Butts
- FORENAME
Raymond Jackson, Jr.
- UNIT
1st Marine Parachute Regiment (HQ & Service Company)
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
318629
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Bougainville, 9th December 1943
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DOW - See Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/butts-raymond-jackson-jr.59831/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Raymond J. Butts (MCSN: 318629), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, First Marine Parachute Regiment against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands, on December 9, 1943. When a small unit of our forces was surrounded by the enemy during an intense fire-fight, Staff Sergeant Butts volunteered to lead a three-man group to destroy one of the hostile machine guns. With cool courage in the face of grave danger, he advanced toward the enemy weapon despite the terrific fire of the Japanese and when both of his comrades were wounded, rescued one of them and assisted in administering first aid. As a hostile sniper in a tree fired in his direction, Staff Sergeant Butts unhesitatingly set out alone to silence the machine gun, but was mortally wounded. His great personal valor and unswerving devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
