BUTTS, LEONARD J.

October 1, 1942

Dies From Wounds

Private Leonard J. Butts, 18-year-old Marine Corps hero, has died [August 9, 1942] somewhere in the Pacific war Theater of wounds received several weeks ago in action against the enemy, his parents were advised yesterday by the Navy Department.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Butts, 322 North Thirteenth Street, received word Sept 3 that their son had been wounded in action “somewhere in the Pacific,” and news yesterday of his death was the first additional information they had received.

A student at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and Gerstmeyer Technical High School, Butts enlisted in the Marine Corps last Jan. 5 and received eight weeks’ basic training at Parris Island, S.C. He completed his training at Quantico, Va., and was assigned to duty with a combat unit and after several weeks hw wrote his parents saying he was on a warship in the Pacific.

Surviving Private Butts besides the parents are four older brothers, Pear and Herman Butts of Detroit, Mich., and Ernie and Virgil Butts of Terre Haute, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Louise Ammerman, Miss Norma Jean and Lucille Butts of Terre Haute.

The message to his parents stated that Private Butts’ body will be buried overseas until the war ends.