Winfield Alyn Butler (1898 - 1918)

Born 25 Nov 1898 in Penryn, Placer County, California, United States of America

Ancestors

Died 5 Sep 1918 at age 19 in River Vesle, Fismes, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lyn Gulbransen [send private message]

Biography

Alyn was born in 1898.

After his father, Henry Winfield Butler, died in 1905 at the young age of 35, Alyn and his widowed mother Louise, moved from Penryn to Roseville where his mother found employment with the Southern Pacific railroad as a clerk. Alyn grew up on Royer street attending the local schools while his mother worked to support herself and her son. When the United States entered World War I, Alyn decided to enlist and trained at Camp Kearney. ^[1]

Alyn W. Butler was the only Roseville boy killed in action. Butler moved to Roseville with his mother in 1906 and found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad, initially in Rocklin and then (1908) in Roseville. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Butler enlisted in the service; he was two months shy of his 20th birthday. On June 1, 1918, he was shipped overseas as a member of Division 28 of Attachment M, 110th Infantry and three weeks after arriving in France, he was killed in action at the River Vesle on September 5, 1918. Two months later (Nov. 11, 1918), the Armistice was signed and the “war to end all wars” was over.

A memorial service was held for the only Roseville youth to lose his life in battle during the Great War at Fiddyment’s Hall on December 27, 1918. A local post of the American Legion was organized in the club room of the Roseville Public Library on Sept. 14, 1919 – 11 days short of what would have been Alyn W. Butler’s 21st birthday. Originally called “Roseville Post No. 169,” a grass roots movement developed to name the post after Roseville’s fallen hero.

And when the permanent charter was conferred on Aug. 19, 1921, it was under the name “Alyn W. Butler Post No. 169.”Alyn W. Butler Post No. 169 continued to meet in the club room of the Roseville Library until 1939 at which time it was removed to Park Drive. Alyn’s mother continued to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad until 1940 when she retired. Fourteen years later (1954) she died and was laid to rest beside her husband in Newcastle Cemetery. Her son still rests in a military cemetery in France.^[2]

Obituary

ROSEVILLE WAR HERO IS BURIED HERE LAST FRIDAY
Winfield Alyn Butler, Who Was Killed In Action, Buried With Military Honors
Winfield, Alyn, Butler was born in Penryn, Placer county California, November 25th, 1898, and when but three years of age he moved with his parents to Rocklin where he remained but a short time when he accompanied them to Roseville, where he obtained his education and had lived until his enlistment in his country's service. At that time he was employed by the Southern Pacific as a switchman in which capacity he was found faithful and ambitious. Among his associates he had ever been a favorite, winning his way into the esteem of his companions at home, at school and in the business world.
Though a true lover of home where his helpfulness was best known, his big heart went out in earnest longing to help humanity to his utmost. Our nation having entered upon the gigantic struggle for the freedom of the seas and paving the way for human freedom his youthful zeal was ablaze, to participate from the very start, and on September 28, 1917; he enlisted and was stationed at Camp Kearney. There he remained until June 28, 1918, when he went over seas, being in Company M, 11th Infantry. Almost immediately upon his arrival in France he was sent to the front, being in some of the heaviest engagements of the war. His correspondence from the firing line were all assuring as to the righteous cause in which he was engaged, and his personal attitude toward the future. His strong arm held aloft the banner of freedom-through many conflicts until on September 5, 1918, when he, paid the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield v of ; Fismes in Northern France. Brave in heart and deed he taught others lessons of heroism, the price of which few will ever know. Cheerful, devoted and patient, these traits he continued to cultivate amid the grave adversities to which he was so frequently exposed. Such souls merit a nation's gratitude beyond our ability to recompense. And if perchance future ' generations shall ask for light upon their problems, then from the record of such men as Winfield A. Butler will be gleaned that which will perpetuate the greatness of the ideals for which they withheld nothing however dear.
Though death came September 5th, the sad news was not received by his loved ones until November 28, when all the world was lifting thankful hearts to Heaven that the Armistice had been signed. The loss was therefore the more difficult to bear. When it was decided that the government would transmit the remains of those who fell in foreign lands, to such final resting places as the relatives might wish, steps were taken to bring this young man's to the place where he had volunteered. The impressive military funeral services were held on Good Friday in the family residence on Royer street, under the direction or Guy E. West. The American Legion attended in a body. The pall bearers were" Paul Royer, Earl Pay-ette, John Chase, F. Fitzpatrick and Tony Mealia. Mrs.B C Knapp and Mrs. Frank Hanisch sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Sometime We'll Understand'. at the home where Rev. T. H. Mee gave a touching address, using the text "There the Weary Are At Rest,", bringing much comfort and hope from choice selections from the New Testament. The escort was Arlington Charter, Frank Hanisch, Irvin Elliott, Paul Udbye, Royal Edgert, Lester Kelley, Allen Johnson, James Georgis, Geo. Kery and E. B. Egerton. After the committal service in the Odd Fellows cemetery where many friends brought their choice floral offerings, and the singing of the Soldier's Rest, taps were sounded and the salute fired bringing once more vividly to our minds the memory of other days and, impressing all of the great honor of having served ones country. Besides his widowed mother, Mrs. Louise Butler, one brother, Bertrand Butler, and one sister, Mrs. Cora Hooper, of Roseville, deceased leaves to honor his blessed memory many sorrowing friends in western Placer, as well as comrades in arms scattered throughout the land where floats the Stars and Stripes.

Memorial Tree

H.S. LANDSCAPING PROJECT IS GlVEN PUBLIC APPROVAL The proposal of J. W. Hanson, high school principal, which is being carried out with the co-cperation of the Better Gardens Club, to beautify the school campus by planting memorial trees, is meeting with much approval. . . The following additional gift, and memory trees have been added recently: . . . American Legion Auxiliary, redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, in memory of Alyn W. Butler. Planted in Memory Grove evergreen group. Mrs. Louise Butler and Mrs. Coralea Boyd, redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, in memory of little Claire Louise Butler. Planted in Memory Grove evergreen group. ^[3] The Press-Tribune Roseville, California 27 Feb 1935, Wed • Page 4

Honored in 2012

Roseville remembers Alyn Butler at gravesite
Roseville's only battlefield casualty in World War I was honored Wednesday during a memorial ceremony exactly 94 years after his death. The event took place at the gravesite of Alyn Butler in the Roseville Cemetery on Berry Street to honor the man who died at 19 years old in 1918. The ceremony also served as an opportunity for his family and members of American Legion Alyn W. Butler Post 169 to share his story. During the last week of May, his great-nephew Harry Butler walked Vernon Street at lunchtime and asked about 50 people if they knew of Butler - no one did. "I too didn't know who Alyn Butler was," Roseville Mayor Pauline Roccucci said at the ceremony. "I'm glad to be here to get to know the family and that young man who gave his life in World War I." Roccucci said he will be remembered for having the spirit and courage to serve his country. Gen. Robert Hipwell, of Granite Bay, reflected on Butler's life history. Born in Penryn in 1898, Butler moved to Roseville with his mother in 1906. He graduated from Roseville High School and got a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad. He enlisted in the United States Army two months before his 20th birthday in 1918. He was killed three weeks after arriving in France in a battle against the Germans in September 1918. Two months later, the armistice was signed and the war ended on the 11th day of the 11th month. Butler was one of an estimated 320,000 American casualties of the war. The local post of the American Legion changed its name in 1922 to honor the fallen hero. The U.S. military returned Butler's remains to Roseville in 1939 for burial with full military honors. During Wednesday's ceremony, Roccucci, Hipwell and Harry Butler placed a wreath at Butler's tombstone to the bugle sounds of "Taps," performed by Jim Berg. Before the salute, Harry Butler thanked the guests for keeping the memory of his great uncle alive. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17201434
2. ↑ https://www.roseville.ca.us/how_do_i___/get_information_about/history_of_roseville
3. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58220733/the-press-tribune/
4. ↑ newsbank.com/

• California Birth Index, 1905-1995

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5247&h=719066&ssrc=pt&tid=31727063&pid=410178385083&usePUB=true

• "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8Z-GW7P : 17 October 2019), Winfield Alyn Butler, ; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

• https://www.rosevilleamericanlegion.com/about/the-american-legion/post-169/

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17201434/alyn-w_-butler