Letters from George

Photographs

George, his family, and the men he served with. Names, dates, and places are drawn from the photos themselves and from the letters — best-effort, and noted where uncertain. Corrections are always welcome.

George

George as an altar boy. He kept up churchgoing all through the war — a priest, likely Father Doyle, recurs throughout the letters.
George as an altar boy. He kept up churchgoing all through the war — a priest, likely Father Doyle, recurs throughout the letters.

c. 1934

In the letters: George T. Butler

George's grammar-school class — he is marked with an arrow at the front ('George Butler, 8th grade').
George's grammar-school class — he is marked with an arrow at the front ('George Butler, 8th grade').

c. 1935

In the letters: George T. Butler

George in cap and gown on graduation day, outside the family home.
George in cap and gown on graduation day, outside the family home.

Late 1930s

In the letters: George T. Butler

George and Mary — his bride — outside the church. They married after he came home from the war.
George and Mary — his bride — outside the church. They married after he came home from the war.

In the letters: George T. Butler

George, Mary, and a priest (likely Father Doyle, who appears throughout the letters) in the churchyard.
George, Mary, and a priest (likely Father Doyle, who appears throughout the letters) in the churchyard.

In the letters: George T. Butler

A wedding group outside the church — George among family and friends.
A wedding group outside the church — George among family and friends.

In the letters: George T. Butler

At war

George in his Class-A service uniform outside barracks '45' at Camp Carson.
George in his Class-A service uniform outside barracks '45' at Camp Carson.

1942–43 Camp Carson, Colorado

In the letters: George T. Butler

George — with a freshly shaved head — leaning on the rail of barracks '45.'
George — with a freshly shaved head — leaning on the rail of barracks '45.'

1942–43 Camp Carson, Colorado

In the letters: George T. Butler

Soldiers resting in a mountain meadow of aspens, a peak behind — a field exercise in the Rockies.
Soldiers resting in a mountain meadow of aspens, a peak behind — a field exercise in the Rockies.

1943 Pikes Peak area, Colorado (likely)

George (far right) and three others among cholla cactus — warm-weather training in the semi-desert.
George (far right) and three others among cholla cactus — warm-weather training in the semi-desert.

1943 Colorado (likely — cholla country near Camp Carson)

In the letters: George T. Butler

Three soldiers among the cactus and dry brush — high-desert training.
Three soldiers among the cactus and dry brush — high-desert training.

1943 Colorado (likely)

A soldier in a heavy overcoat against a brick corner in falling snow — the long wait overseas before D-Day.
A soldier in a heavy overcoat against a brick corner in falling snow — the long wait overseas before D-Day.

Winter 1943–44 (likely) England (likely)

Three soldiers by a brick building (light-leaked print).
Three soldiers by a brick building (light-leaked print).

Spring 1944 (likely) England (likely)

George perched on the fender of a requisitioned 1930s sedan, bumper marked '333 E.' Summer, leafy — somewhere in France.
George perched on the fender of a requisitioned 1930s sedan, bumper marked '333 E.' Summer, leafy — somewhere in France.

Summer 1944 France (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

George in field jacket and overseas cap before a bank of hay. Mailed home and cleared by the Army censor (see the back).
George in field jacket and overseas cap before a bank of hay. Mailed home and cleared by the Army censor (see the back).

Summer/Autumn 1944 France (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

The back of the previous photo — 'PASSED BY U.S. ARMY EXAMINER 27171.' Proof it was mailed home from overseas.
The back of the previous photo — 'PASSED BY U.S. ARMY EXAMINER 27171.' Proof it was mailed home from overseas.

George (right) with two others sitting in a hayfield. Also censor-stamped on the back — same examiner, likely the same envelope home.
George (right) with two others sitting in a hayfield. Also censor-stamped on the back — same examiner, likely the same envelope home.

Summer/Autumn 1944 France (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

The back of the trio photo — the same 'U.S. ARMY EXAMINER 27171' censor stamp.
The back of the trio photo — the same 'U.S. ARMY EXAMINER 27171' censor stamp.

Three soldiers under leafy ivy (faded print) — summer foliage, overseas.
Three soldiers under leafy ivy (faded print) — summer foliage, overseas.

1944 France/Belgium (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

George (far left) with his engineer squad and their shovels, a European farmhouse behind — exactly the road-and-bridge work the letters describe. In a letter from this stretch George mentions a photographer snapping them building a bridge.
George (far left) with his engineer squad and their shovels, a European farmhouse behind — exactly the road-and-bridge work the letters describe. In a letter from this stretch George mentions a photographer snapping them building a bridge.

Autumn 1944 France or Belgium (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

Two engineers on a dirt road, one with a shovel, a hilltop village beyond — road work in the European countryside.
Two engineers on a dirt road, one with a shovel, a hilltop village beyond — road work in the European countryside.

Autumn 1944 (likely) France/Belgium (likely)

George (left) and another engineer with their tools in bare-tree winter country.
George (left) and another engineer with their tools in bare-tree winter country.

Winter 1944–45 (likely) Belgium (likely)

In the letters: George T. Butler

Two engineers, helmeted, in cold bare-branch brush — winter work.
Two engineers, helmeted, in cold bare-branch brush — winter work.

Winter 1944–45 (likely) Belgium (likely)

Five soldiers posed at the mouth of a large cave or quarry on a dirt road. Place and date uncertain.
Five soldiers posed at the mouth of a large cave or quarry on a dirt road. Place and date uncertain.

Unknown

Soldiers with two young girls on an ornate iron bridge — a furlough visit with family (winter, bare trees).
Soldiers with two young girls on an ornate iron bridge — a furlough visit with family (winter, bare trees).

1943 (likely) Stateside (likely)

Family

The nine Butler siblings together, summer 1943. George is the lean young man, second from left. Left to right: Lillian, George, Marian, Alice, Marge, Katherine, Sarah, John, Ann.
The nine Butler siblings together, summer 1943. George is the lean young man, second from left. Left to right: Lillian, George, Marian, Alice, Marge, Katherine, Sarah, John, Ann.

June 1943

In the letters: George T. Butler · Ann · Marian

The back of the family portrait, listing all nine siblings oldest to youngest with their birthdates (stamped June 15, 1943).
The back of the family portrait, listing all nine siblings oldest to youngest with their birthdates (stamped June 15, 1943).

June 1943

The Butler parents — George's mother and father — in an Edwardian-era studio portrait, with a parrot in an ornate cage.
The Butler parents — George's mother and father — in an Edwardian-era studio portrait, with a parrot in an ornate cage.

A garden gathering of the Butler sisters with George (back row, right).
A garden gathering of the Butler sisters with George (back row, right).

In the letters: George T. Butler

The Orem children — George's sister Sarah's kids ('Aunt Sarah'): Mary Jane, Franny Jr., Tommy, and Johnny. The 'Franny' whose X-ray George asks after in the letters is their father, Franny Sr., who had tuberculosis.
The Orem children — George's sister Sarah's kids ('Aunt Sarah'): Mary Jane, Franny Jr., Tommy, and Johnny. The 'Franny' whose X-ray George asks after in the letters is their father, Franny Sr., who had tuberculosis.