Lieutenant Colonel Lyle William Butler, Jr., U.S. Army Retired – Deceased.

Butler was born in Winchester, VA on October 1, 1937. He attended Virginia Tech as a member of the Corps of Cadets, graduating in 1959 and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Officer. His overseas assignments included postings in Germany, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Vietnam. In Vietnam, he served as the S-3 officer for the 2d Battalion, 77th Artillery Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and took part in four major campaigns. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and additional recognitions. After returning to the United States, most of his career was spent at Fort Sill, OK, where his final positions were Senior Field Artillery Staff Officer, Chief of the Training Systems Team, and Secretary of the General Staff for the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Throughout his more than 20-year Army career, Butler received recognition for addressing operational challenges and contributing to mission requirements. During his time at Fort Sill, he often worked during weekends and after-duty hours to fulfill assignments. He received the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster as his highest award. Following retirement, Butler continued working in the defense sector until his death on July 25, 2011, at the age of 73. He was interred at Fort Smith National Cemetery.

He was married to his wife, Linda, for 55 years and they have three sons.