CONNEAUTVILLE — They may not stand as straight as they once did, but they stand — just as proud of their military service as they always have been.

More than a dozen veterans, all members of American Legion Post 615 of Conneautville, were honored Saturday for their military service and being members of the post for 50 years or more.

“Whatever it took to get things done — you did it,” Mark Sladick, commander of Post 615, said at the recognition dinner at St. Peter’s Church social hall.

It was discipline and dedication that got the men through their service in World War II and Korea, Sladick said. It’s still in evidence with their milestone in membership to the American Legion.

“We cannot do enough for these men,” he said. “Their contributions and sacrifice are a constant reminder and a template (for life) that all should follow.”

Eight of the 14 veterans — from World War II or the Korean War, or both — were in attendance. Each was honored with a plaque and a medal for their service from the American Legion.

One of the oldest there was Bob Butterfield, 92, of Conneautville, a 66-year member of the American Legion.

Butterfield went into the U.S. Army in October 1941 as a raw recruit in the field artillery. It was two months before the United States would enter World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He came out of the war as a captain in the signal corps.

“I didn’t volunteer,” Butterfield said with a laugh of going into the service.

He thought he was destined for the field artillery after basic training, but then got orders to be trained as a radio operator.

His commander recommended Butterfield try Officer Candidate School, but Butterfield was reluctant as he only had a high school education and didn’t think he’d make it through.

“He told me, ‘You get along with the men. You’re a bright guy. You’re always doing something,’ ” Butterfield said.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Butterfield was a captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corps when Japan surrendered in 1945.

He was in Japan in August 1945 when he was ordered to lead a search for a fresh-water source for billeted soldiers. He was about 15 miles outside of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped the first atomic bomb.

“We’re driving around and then we realize we ended up in a place that’s really flat,” Butterfield said. “We thought the Air Corps really pounded them.”

Butterfield and his party had accidentally driven into Hiroshima, just days after the atomic bomb had been dropped.

“When our colonel found out what happened later he called us up right away and ordered us to the hospital,” Butterfield said. “We didn’t know where we were at the time.”

He suffered no ill effects, but later seeing the Japanese people from Hiroshima being treated at a Red Cross hospital for their injuries was another matter.

“It was pitiful,” he said sadly. “The smell was terrible.”

Butterfield had no ill will toward the Japanese people with regard to the war.

“The people themselves didn’t have anything to do with it. They had no choice. Their leaders made the choice (for war).”



Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.



List of American Legion Post 615 of Conneautville veterans honored Saturday for their military service and 50 years or more of membership at the post. They are listed with their number of years of membership.

Forrest Askey, 58 years

Robert Askey, 59 years

Stanley Baker, 58

Bob Butterfield, 66 years

Clyde Faust Jr., 58 years

David Numer, 67 years

Russ Ingols, 66 years

Irwin Lester, 60 years

Charles Lowe, 66 years

David Numer, 67 years

Richard Thayer, 58 years

Wendell Woodring, 68 years

Jim Hoover, 50 years

Dick Loughner, 50 years

Stan Urban, 50 years

Bob Newman, 50 years

Chuck White, 50 years