Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Medical Detachment, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army (Medical Detachment, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army)

By direction of the President and under the provisions of Sec. I, Cir. 32, Hq. ETO US Army, 20 Mar. 1944, as amended by Sec. I, Cir. 56, Hq. ETO US Army, 27 May 1944, a Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to: Corporal Richard S. Butterfield, 20721319, Medical Detachment, 134th Infantery Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States, on 21 July 1944 at Saint-Lô, Normandie, France. On 21 July 1944 the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry was occupying the town of Saint-Lô, Normandie, France, with the Battalion CP located in a cemetery. The Medical Detachment, 1st Battalion, was situated in a mill at the NE outskirts of town. At approximately 1400, while and ambulance was being loaded adjacent to the mill, several enemy howitzer shells hit the mill and the area around the ambulance. At that particular time, Corporal Richard S. Butterfield, Medical NCO, was engaged in loading a shell concussion victim into the ambulance. He threw himself over the patient holding him down and protecting him with his own body. Corporal Butterfield's gallant action; his unselfish zeal in protecting a patient, above and beyond the call of duty, resulted in the patient receiving merely some shell fragment wounds, enabling his being evacuated in good condition. Corporal Butterfield, however, as a result of his action, had his right leg blown off and the left leg badly fractured. The splendid bravery of the noncommissioned officer; his utter disregard for his own safety, merits the emblazoning of his name in the annals of the Medical Corps.

Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 59 (1944).