Please note: part of the claims of service here are being challenged (See comments) and I am attempting to drill down further to find out.
UPDATE: Maj. Butler's service was recognized on the floor of the New Mexico State House.
(UPDATE 2: I screwed up on the state involved: it was New Mexico as opposed to Minnesota. I apologize for the error.)
Initially, I posted this because I came up with multiple sources that confirmed it. More as I can find it.
Simply astounding.
A total of 37 years of active service as a Marine and a soldier.
A total of 44 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
KIA with/in Special Forces at the age of 56.
This is service. This is heroics. My time in was nothing compared to this warrior's service.
Although KIA in Afghanistan back in May, he was just buried in Arlington within the past few days.
UPDATE: Maj. Butler's service was recognized on the floor of the New Mexico State House.
(UPDATE 2: I screwed up on the state involved: it was New Mexico as opposed to Minnesota. I apologize for the error.)
Initially, I posted this because I came up with multiple sources that confirmed it. More as I can find it.
Simply astounding.A total of 37 years of active service as a Marine and a soldier.
A total of 44 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
KIA with/in Special Forces at the age of 56.
This is service. This is heroics. My time in was nothing compared to this warrior's service.
Although KIA in Afghanistan back in May, he was just buried in Arlington within the past few days.
Today, Major Keith A Butler was laid to rest in Arlington national cemetery after being KIA in Afghanistan 10 May 2014. Butler served 37 years in the Army and Marine Corps, and had 44 deployments under his belt. This man was a giant among men. Rest easy Doc.
36 comments:
Nobody by that name was killed in Afghanistan in 2014, nor anybody at all on that date. Also, 44 deployments is an impossible number. The only way that would work is if he bounced between every deploying SOF unit without every resetting between deployments. It would be like 132 months cumulative, which is basically the duration of the whole war.
I believe the guy was a real vet, and that he died, but the dates and the math don't work.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=130592970
I don't know anything other than what has been repeatedly posted. I can't find a casualty list per se', I have read something from someone claiming to be one iof his son't who verifies this with greater detail but it never occurred to me to copy it down since in checking before I posted this I found nothing to indicate it was false.
Deployment lengths can, of course, vary, from a set time to as little as, I'm told by a former SEAL, the length of time it takes to complete a mission.
I'll drill down on this and see what I can find. Thanks for posting.
Keith had retired from the Army a few years back and was working with the CIA or some other DOD agency. According to his father, who passed a year before Keith was killed, Keith would go over for peroids of 1 month or more several time a year. Keith was my cousin.
The 44 deployments include Panama, Honduras, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan just to name a few.
Keith died in service to his country, DYLAN, only 10, 2014. I dated him, and I loved him. He was an independent contractor for the CIA and went back to forth to Iraq, Afghanistan and other God forsaken places every few months. . He was fearless, loved America, and gave his life in service to Her.
Have YOU served Dylan?
Lori Huyette
This is my 2nd cousin and you need to think before you speak. My uncle passed away a year before Keith and now for Keith to pass away like this leaving my aunt without her husband and her son. Keith, he was and is an honorable man and soldier. He deserves respect and I'm sorry you cant get top security clearance to know all who died. Do not speak about things you dont know. Keith was Special forces, and believe me, you wont know all that my cousin did. You owe his family an apology.
http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/15%20Regular/memorials/house/HM108.pdf
Thank you for the update, BOB... I've added it to the main post.
FYI, it's New Mexico (NM) and not Minnesota (MN).
For the guy that said all those deployments is impossible it totally is the 75th ranger does 3month deployments and they can be as short as a month sometimes less sometimes they do a mission finish it then leave the country try for them that counts as a deployment due to the hazard of the job I've talked to men like him while deployed its not uncommon amoung the higher tiered operators
I served with Keith in the Marines in the late 70's. Great person and an outstanding marine! He always gave more than expected and was a good friend. Great sense of humor and a positive attitude. I remember he used to get up early and get a workout in before the rest of the platoon even woke up. Prepping for special forces tryouts, I imagine... Rest in peace, brother and Semper Fi!
Tom Pfingsten
Brainerd, Minnesota
Dylan Kroll, STFU. Keith was a dear friend of mine and he was KIA on that day and those numbers are accurate. You have no idea what you are talking about as many of his deployments were much shorter than a standard infantry deployment. While shorter, they were much more dangerous. Regardless, that man was over there in theater for damn near the entire war. The only thing that isn't completely correct is who he was working for, but rest assured he was still a member of the DOD. He was without a doubt the finest warrior I have ever met. So before you start to question his service or his record get your facts straight.
Jared Owensby
Dena, I had the honor to serve with Keith. He was a soldier, a mentor, a good FRIEND. God bless you and your family.
Dena, I had the honor to serve with Keith. You have to explain nothing to these POS. That does not know what he's done.
Agreed on the deployments. No way, no how.
Something's obviously amiss, as vigorously as these claims have been defended by offended friends/family, no one has addressed the real heartburn:
1) On iCasualties, only one KIA named Butler is listed in Afghanistan - ever. And it's not this Butler. iCasualties lists CIA, CIA Contractors, Civilians, every single US KIA regardless of affiliation.
2) Anyone and everyone who has ever served contests the 44 deployments claim. Understood that memorial notes and eulogies are generally written by surviving family members who don't really know what that number might really be.
3) Not a single casualty reporting system reports Keith as a KIA.
I know it's not a tasteful topic; I know, because I served 22yrs and am a combat veteran. Let's get facts, not feelings, involved. Don't care if you dated him - hope you had fun. Don't care if you're related, I'm sure you miss him. SFA membership is not sufficient - anyone can join as an affiliate. If you really served with him as some claim, you know exactly what to provide. Facts, please.
37 years in the Army and USMC (odd, questionable mix), 44 deployments, and he's just a mere O-4? Something's smells fishy. This does not hold water. If he's a private contractor, then he was NOT active in the Special Forces at the time of this. It has to be one or the other. I can see some possible explanations for the rank and the deployments, but I can't believe he was Army Special Forces AND a private contractor at the same time- that does not make sense. There are other problems with the facts, but these are the ones that are obvious.
After reaching out within the community, several men have come forward with 1st hand knowledge and proof to not only say what an awesome 18D, PA and teammate Keith was, but most importantly to verify his KIA status. I'm super grateful that they did. We all agree that the point of contention regarding his deployments is most likely a fudge factor of "every trip ever", and that number is not coming from Keith himself. RIP to a great warrior.
What a guy. Rest in peace Doc
DOL
Clearly those who are trying to discredit MJR Butler have no idea what they are speaking of. First of all, to Sarc88, look in the comments above. New Mexico did honor him through the state legislature. Secondly, the war in Afghanistan started in October 2001. SF troops, especially if he had ever deployed with Delta Force, would have only had him in country for a few days to maybe a couple of months at most. And anyone counting on icasualties to know exactly who was killed should hold their head in shame as icasualties does NOT count every single persons death.
You call yourself a combat vet Sarc88 but you sound like an ass saying what you chose to say. I'm a combat vet and even I have done my research on this man and everywhere I turn, the info so far supports the statements.
I have received the first hand servicemember knowledge I requested, and quickly. I reached out on other veteran sites, and Keith's SF brothers have come forward to vouch his service and KIA status. I'm sorry that his status is not reported by other systems, and that we have to rely on word of mouth/brotherhood vouchers. Keith deserves better.
We definitely lost an American brother like no other when we lost Keith.
I'll just add to this conversation that when you read the memorial that Bob posted, it states that MAJ Butler "completed forty-four combined missions in Iraq and Afghanistan". Missions, not deployments. The deployment number is probably lower.
There are some of you that act as if your shit on Military knowledge and how things work, Fact is your clueless there are those individuals that are kept well past the duration of the average Soldier or Marine etc. For there skills and physical abilities.. Yes I know your going to say that is just in the movies. Well wake up where do you think they get some of there stories. There are things that go on for reasons that are eyes only and none of you or I's business. RIP Major those in the know have your six Brother!
Well SF deployments can be as little as 30 day rotaions. Rangers are 3 months. As well as marsoc.
He was a Mentor at the first live lab in 300.F1 He was awe inspiring back then as well. RIP Brother. Until Valhalla...
Definitely a heros resume. Rest In Peace.
I do have one question: He was a commissioned officer. It appear the Army branch was either Medical or Medical Service Corps by note of his collar insignia.
Would anyone know if he was a physician, nurse, or Physician Assistant?
I find it curios there is no mention of that. Everything else touts of combat arms, but the branch insignia throws me off.
Addendum: it appears that this fine veteran was a physician assistant question has been answered.
Honors given RIP Sir.
I was one of the very lucky people to meet Keith a year or so before he was killed. We live near a large military base with several smaller supporting bases. We are accustomed to “top secret” missions. If you had met him, you would not question the above history. We spent many nights on the phone and having drinks discussing his life choices, he patriotism and why he never actually “retired”. We talked at length about why he was still “involved” with government missions. He was everything they have said he was and most likely more we will never hear about. He was a trained soldier and knew no other way in life, except to serve his country in the only way he knew how. The reason you won’t find his recorded “KIA” is, he officially did not exist, for obvious reason. Everyone here in Florida misses him very much as you can see. Almost 4 years later, I still read his texts messages, look at his photos, and miss him very much. He was one of a kind and can never be replaced.
No one can join as an affiliate. Ever.
He may have spent a month here or there like most Top Units do. Bouncing down to Central America and things like that. Not every combat Action is a six or twelve month deployment dumb Asses
Youve obviously never been to Bragg or hung out around the SFQC. a surprising amount of SF are former marines. Especially in the guard. Where you can contract and be on an ODA at the same time.
Served with him in 10th Mountain Div. In early 90s. He was our physician assistant. Bad sob
Keith was my husbands (36 years SF) best friend and his 44 deployments were with the CIA after retirement. That doesn’t even count all his years active duty. We miss him every day. He was an awesome soldier and person.
No clue who credible these claims are but 44 deployments for OIF/OEF is not likely. A deployment is 90 days or more (for simplicity lets say 3 months). 44 x 3 - 132 months deployed. 132/12 = 11 years. The avg deployment is 7.7 months long (9.4 for Army; 7.97 Marines). 7.7 x 44 = 338.8 months or 28.23 years deployed. OEF was declared 18.5 years ago.
People like Butler never stop being who they are. I salute all the vets serving where ever they are, even CIA and DOD. Besides men like this are Angel's covering a mad man. Don't tick them off.
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