Newspaper Page Text
Page 12august7,2011 StarNews www.starnewsga.com
BUTLER from front page
friends he left behind—those whose num
bers are too large to count will forever feel
his loss. The StarNews requested he allow
permission for a story on him to be fea
tured in the May “Celebrate Our Veterans”
issue. He declined stating, “There’s noth
ing special about me to write.”
Butler was bom on February 9, 1976.
He served with distinction as a Federal Air
Marshal (FAM) from February, 2002 until
July, 2011 under the Department of
Homeland Security. He was assigned to
the Miami and Atlanta field offices. He
had recently been designated as a Senior
Federal Air Marshal due to his excellent
leadership and his commitment to the
FAMs mission.
Butler had served with the United States
Department of Justice Border Patrol on the
southern border of the U.S. and Mexico in
San Diego, California from May, 2001
until February, 2002. From March, 1999
until July, 2000, he served the Shelby
County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama as a
patrol deputy.
Butler also served his country with the
military. He began his military career with
the Navy, graduating second in command
and was meritoriously promoted in June,
1995. He graduated the Navy Operations
A School in September of 1995 and served
as a member of the Honor Guard rifle
team.
He then attended the U. S. Army
Airborne and Air Assault School during
1996 to fulfill a duty position as U. S.
Army Paratrooper. He earned a Parachutist
Badge and Air Assault Badge.
In April of 2002, Butler enlisted with
Headquarters Company 20th Special
Forces Group (Airborne) in Birmingham,
Alabama. He served with this group in
support of Enduring Freedom from
September 2, 2002 until May 3, 2003. The
following October, he became a U. S.
Army Aviator at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.
Butler graduated as a U.S. Army Warrant
Officer at Ft. Rucker in August, 2003.
In 2004, he became a UH-60
Blackhawk helicopter aviator. In 2008, he
qualified for the C-12 Hueron airplane.
Butler served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
during 2006 and 2007 in Balad, Iraq. He
flew as a line pilot in the Blackhawk heli
copter, flying 155 combat missions and
575 combat hours in numerous operations
supporting Multi-National and Coalition
forces. Again, he served in Operation Iraqi
Freedom in 2009 and 2010 in Tikrit, Iraq
as Pilot in Command conducting combat
missions for the Multi-National and
Coalition forces.
Butler flew 180 sorties, achieving 629.2
combat hours.
Butler was a graduate of Thompson
High School and completed the Air Force
JROTC program in May of 1994. He
graduated the Federal Air Marshal
Academy where he was class president.
Butler was a graduate of the U.S. Border
Patrol Academy and the Montgomery
Police Academy where he was again class
president.
Butler became a Master Mason in Villa
Rica Lodge #72 and was very active dur
ing his tenure there.
“James was a unique individual,” stated
Master Mason David Sullivan. “He
quickly became a friend of my entire fam
ily. He knew the true meaning of friend
ship and gave completely of himself to
those he considered friends.”
“James was a friend to everyone,” stated
Shane Cheatwood, whom James was
coaching in Masonic degree work. “He
was so likable and never met a stranger.” huge gap is left where James Michael
In the fabric of the lives he touched, a Butler once stood proud.
The American flag that draped Butler’s casket has been folded and is about
to be presented to the family. Photo by Prissi Sullivan
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