Harry James Butler

Harry James Butler, CMSGT (ret.) Harry was born in Pasay City, Philippine Islands on December 7, 1930. His mom, Wai Tanaka was Japanese, his dad, Orville Robert Butler, was American. World War II was waging in Europe and China. On Harry’s 11th birthday, December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. America’s involvement with World War II began. Bombs hit Manila the very next day. Harry’s dad, a former US soldier, held a high ranking position in the civil service, overseeing aircraft maintenance when he was captured and incarcerated as a POW in Santo Tomas University. The POW population held there eventually numbered in the thousands. Harry’s family was subsequently forced to live under house imprisonment at Los Banos. The four Butler Brothers, William Basinger, George, Walter and Harry Butler, a rambunctious bunch, ran around the camp with hundreds of other kids and played games and baseball under watchful eyes in the Japanese prison camp. That time was difficult for the family. Bare necessities were scarce, but love abounded. After three years, the POWs at Santo Tomas were rescued by the First Cavalry, and soon after that Los Banos internees were rescued by the commando group from the 11th Airborne. By then, Harry was 15 years old. The Butler family’s collective wartime experiences were history. It was time for them to reunite with their dad. They moved back to Manila and began their new life by repairing their war-damaged home. Their long imprisonment at Los Banos shaped the future for the Butler boys. The oldest, Bill, returned to flying with the Philippine Airlines. George joined the U.S. Navy; Walter and Harry joined the U.S. Air Force (Originally the Army Air Corps). Harry and enlisted at 17 in 1948, his initial duty station was Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. From there, Harry served throughout Europe and the Far East, including Japan, Okinawa, Korea and South Vietnam, during his 21 year career. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Harry met his wife Patricia Marie Ford at a Catholic youth organization (CYO) dance in Miami in 1952, where he and his buddies had gone to “Look for girls”. Harry had a 1938 cream-colored Chevrolet with a rumble seat, making him a good guy to know. There was room for three inside and three others in the back. Pat liked him immediately, without even seeing his car. They went steady right away. Months passed. Harry was assigned to the crew left behind to close the Miami International Air Depot, so the airport property could be returned to the city. There was a big incentive to clear the base within three months – Harry would earn another stripe, upping him to Tech Sergeant. That work involved loading 50 aircraft with combat equipment and engines to be hauled to Charleston Air Force Base. The job was done in only two months. Shortly thereafter, the young couple had a large wedding in Miami at Pat’s Catholic Church, packed their bags and moved to Charleston, South Carolina. Life in the military began for Pat… the newlyweds lived in a “trailer village”, where she came to know the other Air Force couples as family. When their first baby Cynthia Ann (now Duquette) was born in November 1954. It was cause for celebration. Pat said, “We were one big family. You have to remember we didn’t have immediate family around (wherever they happened to be stationed in the military), so we took care of each other.” Subsequent postings were Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Okinawa where their second child Patrick Michael was born in October 1961. From there they returned to Charleston Air Force Base and their final assignment to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Throughout their time and service the Butlers met some amazing people with some amazing stories. Most of his work dealt with aircraft in aircraft engine repair and maintenance, with the last four years of his career spent in the Military Airlift Command (MAC), at Scott Air Force Base where he specialize in maintenance standardization and evaluation. Throughout the years, Harry received over 13 decorations and awards, several of them multiple times. In 1964, his team won the third annual Air Force Rodeo (Aerial Delivery Competition Award), taking every trophy available. As he was only 38 years of age upon retirement (Chief Master Sgt. E-9) in 1969, Harry wasn't ready to sit on a riverbank with a fishing pole every day. He did a stint as an aircraft mechanic at National Airlines in Miami, and was soon recruited by the FAA to supervise the environmental systems and support unit at the Miami Air Traffic Control Center– A post he held until his second retirement two decades later. Throughout his life, Harry has been known as the ultimate mechanic and handyman, having built his own 4,000 square foot house on a 2.5-acre lot in the Homestead area. First obtaining an owner/builder license – which included electrician’s and plumber’s licensing – to ensure the structure was built to code. He had previously lived in a home in Okinawa with a poured concrete roof that survived a three-day 250 mile-per-hour typhoon. So he was well aware of the construction process necessary to build stormproof structures. In August 1992 his beautiful home was in the direct path of Hurricane Andrew, but it stood fast against the storm and the damage was minimal. Three generators provided power to run water pumps, lights, refrigerator, etc. for the two-month power outage suffered by most of Dade County. Harry’s forethought paid off– in spades! Harry was active in several local and national organizations, including the 435th Troop Carrier Wing, the American Legion, DAV chapter 138, FAA Retired Group, Broward Coalition and Lauderdale West Men’s Club. Pat and Harry have been residents of Lauderdale West since 2000. Harry is survived by his loving wife Patricia, daughter Cynthia (and husband Ronald Duquette), son Patrick (and wife Lyda) and has three grandchildren - Ashley Nicole Butler, Robert Brandon Duquette and Adrianna Warren. Harry is also survived by his brother, Walter Butler (and wife Barbara). He leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. His family will receive friends on Wednesday from 10:00AM till service time at 12:00 Noon at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place at South Florida VA National Cemetery at a later date.