Oral History Interview with John H. Butterfield, February 10, 2012

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John H. Butterfield. Butterfield was drafted in November, 1942 into the Army and trained as an antiaircraft gunner. In March, 1943 he was shipped to Hawaii. Soon, he was assigned to a gun battery at Pearl City. He also learned to operate the radar and describes its activity. Butterfield describes being transported across the Pacific in an LST and participating in the assault on Makin Island. Butterfield and crew set up their antiaircraft guns there after the atoll was secure. Eventually, his outfit was transported back to Pearl Harbor in July, 1944. In April, 1945, Butterfield's antiaircraft unit was attached to the Tenth Army and went to Ie Shima. Butterfield also speaks about witnessing the Japanese surrender delegation arriving on Ie Shima. After the war, he was discharged and returned home, married and resumed farming