Major General Bobby G. Butcher

General Butcher was born on April 30, 1936 in Mineral Wells, W. VA.  Following graduation from West Virginia University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Agriculture, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in July 1959.

Upon completion of flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL. And the NAS, Kingsville, Texas, he was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1960.  His first operational flying assignment was with VMA-242, flying the A4D-2 Skyhawk at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC.  He was promoted to first lieutenant in January 1961.  During July 1962, he deployed with VMA-224 to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as the Embarkation Officer and Assistant Landing Signal Officer of the squadron until October 1963.

Transferred back to the United States, he was subsequently assigned to the NAS, Kingsville, where he served as an instructor in F9’s Until July 1966.  While in this assignment he was promoted to captain in July 1964.  He then transferred to Quantico, VA, to attend the Amphibious Warfare School, and upon completion of School in January 1967, reported to VMA-311 at Chu Lai, in the Republic of Vietnam, for duty as the squadron’s Flight Officer and Landing Signal Officer.

In October 1967, he returned from overseas, and reported to the Landing Force Training Command, Pacific, Coronado, CA, where he served as an Aviation Instructor in the Supporting Arms Branch.  He was promoted to Major in November 1967.  He then returned to the 1st MAW in May 1970, as Embarkation Officer of various units.  He was next assigned a two-year tour as Officer-in-Charge, Officer Selection Office, Philadelphia, PA. 

He returned to Quantico, where he was a student at the Command and Staff College.  Upon completion of school, in June 1974, he reported to VMAT-102 with the 3rd MAW at Yuma, AZ, for duty as the Operations Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer.  He was promoted to Lt. Colonel in May 1976.

From July 1977 until July 1979, he served as Operations Officer of the MCAS, Yuma, AZ.  He then returned overseas as G-3 Plans Officer of the 3rd Marine Division.  Ordered back to Yuma, he served as Commanding Officer of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1).  During this assignment, he was promoted to colonel in July 1981.  He left MAWTS-1 in August 1982 and spent the next ten months as a student at the Executive Seminar in National and International Affairs (The Senior Seminar) in Arlington, VA.

General Butcher reported to the Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe in Naples, Italy in July 1983, where he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy.  While serving in this capacity, he was selected in April 1986 for promotion to brigadier general.  He was advanced to that grade on June 20, 1986.  On June 26, 1986, he assumed duty as the Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd MAW, FMF, Pacific, MCAS, El Toro, Santa Ana CA.  He was assigned duty as Commanding General, 6th Marine Expeditionary Brigade on Sept. 3, 1987.  General Butcher was promoted to major general on March 9, 1989, with a date of rank of March 1st, 1989.  He was assigned duty as the Director of Operations (J3), U.S. Commander in Chief Staff, Camp H.S. Smith, Hawaii on July 26, 1989.  General Butcher served in this capacity until July 26, 1991.  He commanded Landing Force Training Command at the NAB Coronado from August 7, 1991 until his retirement on August 1, 1992.

His medals and decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star Medal and Combat “V”; Air Medal with bronze Numeral “15” and various other medals and ribbons.

Since retirement, he has consulted with various contractors on defense and joint operations.  He is involved with the following volunteer organizations: Chairman Board of Directors, Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation; past President of The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA); a member of the Board of Directors of (MOAA), the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum and the Coronado Council of the US Navy League.  He is also listed in Marquis “Who’s Who in America”.