Purple Heart, “Sgt Joseph L. Butehorn, USMCR”, VMTB-233

Purple Heart, gilt wrap brooch, hand-engraved “Sgt/Joseph L. Butehorn/USMCR”. In its original purple coffin case.

Sergeant Butehorn was reported missing in action on 10 May 1945, when his TBM-3 Avenger aircraft did not return from a mission against installations around Nobara Airfield, Miyako Shima, Ryuku Islands. He was assigned to VMTB-233, which flew off USS Block Island (CVE-106) in support of the Okinawa operations. Sgt Butehorn was from Bethpage, New York, where a Veterans of Foreign Wars post is named for him and his brother, Charles, both killed in World War II. Sgt Butehorn is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery.