Family will honor service of seven brothers with legacy wall stones

The “Butor Bros” will be among those whose names are added to the Medford American Legion Legacy Wall at the flag field memorial in the Medford City Park on Monday.

The seven Taylor County brothers, Alex, Paul, John Jr., George, Felix, Frank and Herbert all served in the armed forces. The brothers saw service in World War II and the Korean War serving in Europe, the Pacific and stateside.

Paul Butor’s son, Wayne Butor has become his family’s informal historian. In recent years he has been having conversations with his cousins Ken Westrich and Patty (Westrich) Prell on how to recognize his dad and six of his brothers for their service in the armed forces during WWII and the Korean War. Prell had been the family historian prior to her passing last November. According to Wayne, Prell was the oldest of the cousins and was able to share more personal memories of the uncles.

Last spring Wayne learned about the Veteran’s Memorial Flag Field in Medford and the opportunity provided there to acknowledge and honor individual veterans by having “legacy stones” engraved and installed at the site.

“Having a beautiful place such as this established in their hometown it seemed natural to have their names added so they can be recognized along with others from the community,” Wayne said.

The Veteran’s Memorial Flag Field is located on the east side of the Medford Mill Pond along the city’s Riverwalk network of walking trails.

It is not unusual to see large families in rural farming communities such as Medford, especially in the middle of the last century and the community has several stories of entire families who served. It was more remarkable that the seven brothers served and all were able to return home after that service.

Paul was the oldest to serve. He fought in Italy with the 91st Division, 361st Infantry Regiment. He was also the only Butor brother wounded in combat receiving two purple hearts. Paul saw action in Rome-Arno, Northern Apennines and the Po Valley serving from October 13, 1942 to October 29, 1945. In addition to the purple hearts for being injured he earned a Good Conduct medal.

Alex served in the 53rd Infantry as a Medical NCO, he was stationed in the Aleutians and in Rhineland from February 1, 1941 to October 14, 1945. He earned campaign medals and a Good Conduct medal.

John Jr. served from February 4, 1943 to January 6, 1946 in the quartermaster truck company driving a heavy truck in New Guinea. He received a Good Conduct medal.

George served from December 19, 1944 to November 24, 1946 as a tank crewman on an Army light tank company. He was stationed in Philippines and Japan. He received the Occupation Medford Japan, Philippine Liberation Battle Star and the Good Conduct medals.

Felix served in the Army, but prior to being shipped out was in a car crash and never left the U.S.

Frank served from December 2, 1948 to December 18, 1952 with the Army 32nd Infantry as a lineman. He served in Korea and earned the Presidential Unit Citation and five Bronze Stars.

Herbert is the only brother to not serve in the Army. He was in the Air Force serving in Korea and was stationed in Japan.

Each year as part of the Memorial Day services, the Medford American Legion post reads the names of those being added to the Memorial Wall located at the Flag Field in the Medford City Park. Wayne reached out to The Star News to share a little bit about his father’s and uncles’ service and to put some faces with the names on the wall.

The dedication ceremony will take place as part of the Memorial Day service on Monday beginning at 10:30 a.m. A total of 64 service men and women who have served our country are being honored with the placement of a stone.

George Butor

Frank Butor

Felix Butor

Paul Butor

John Butor Jr.

Herbert Butor

Congratulations to the following students from MASH Concert Choir who competed at State Solo and Ensemble at UW Stevens Point, May 7. Pictured are: (Front row, l. to r.): Molly Kapfhamer, Jaydn Hughes, Bregan Paul, Susan Dake, Sierra Stahnke; Second row Lorien Kautzer, Alexis Steffen, MiLou van den Boogaard; third row, Cassandra Jablonsky-director, Brooke Meyer, Aubry Chaffee and Olivia Satterthwaite Medford students had 16 gold awards and three silver. Golds were earned by: Musical Theater: Brook Meyer (A Trip to the Library), Bregan Paul (Green Finch and Linnet Bird), Aubry Chaffee (Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again) Soprano Solo: Olivia Satterthwaite: (Vittoria mio Core), Bregan Paul: (Sure on this Shining Night) Alto solo: Susan Dake: (Silent Noon) Barbershop Quartet: Brook Meyer, Aubry Chaffee, Bregan Paul, Olivia Satterthwaite: (Blue Skies) Double SSA Trio: Molly Kapfhamer, Aubry Chaffee, Jaydn Hughes, MiLou van den Boogaard, Sierra Stahnke, Lorien Kautzer: (Three Spanish Ballads) Silver were earned by: Alto Solo: Bregan Paul: (I Will Lift Mine Eyes), Alexis Steffen: (Preludios), Soprano Solo: Aubry Chaffee (If Music Be the Food of Love)SUBMITTED