Butler B. Miltonberger
Encyclopedia
Butler Buchanan Miltonberger (August 31, 1897 - March 23, 1977) was a distinguished officer in the United States Army
and former Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
, on August 31, 1897. He attended North Platte High School
, and upon his graduation in 1916, Miltonberger enlisted in the National Guard and was mobilized during the Mexican Border Campaign. During World War I, Miltonberger fought in the Argonne
region with the 4th Infantry Division.
In 1923 he was promoted to Captain and commanded Company D of the 134th Infantry Regiment. The Regiment trained at Fort Ord
and Camp Luis Obispo in California, Camp Butler in North Carolina, and Camp Rucker
in Alabama. During World War II, Miltonberger led his troops overseas as their Regimental Commander. They served eighteen months at Morhange
, Vire
, Alsace
, Saint-Lô
, Geilenkirchen
, Bastogne
, Mortain
, Nancy, Sarreguemines
, and the Elbe River.
Promoted to Assistant Commander of the 35th Division in 1945, when the war ended, Miltonberger was assigned to the War Department personnel section. In 1946 he was nominated by President Truman to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Due to poor health, Miltonberger retired in 1947.
Throughout his military career, Miltonberger was recognized with various medals and awards including the Distinguished Service Medal
, the French Croix de guerre, and the Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau
. After his retirement in 1947, Miltonberger returned to Nebraska. He spent time in North Platte as well as in Lincoln
where he worked as a member of the Nebraska State Engineering staff.
Butler B. Miltonberger died at his home outside of North Platte, Nebraska
, on March 23, 1977. He is buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery
near Maxwell, Nebraska
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and former Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Biography
Miltonberger was born at North Platte, NebraskaNorth Platte, Nebraska
North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River...
, on August 31, 1897. He attended North Platte High School
North Platte High School (Nebraska)
North Platte High School is a public secondary school in North Platte, Nebraska. In 2001, the North Platte Dawgs' football team went to the 2001 Nebraska State Championship but lost 28-14.-Notable alumni:...
, and upon his graduation in 1916, Miltonberger enlisted in the National Guard and was mobilized during the Mexican Border Campaign. During World War I, Miltonberger fought in the Argonne
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
region with the 4th Infantry Division.
In 1923 he was promoted to Captain and commanded Company D of the 134th Infantry Regiment. The Regiment trained at Fort Ord
Fort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
and Camp Luis Obispo in California, Camp Butler in North Carolina, and Camp Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
in Alabama. During World War II, Miltonberger led his troops overseas as their Regimental Commander. They served eighteen months at Morhange
Morhange
Morhange is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
, Vire
Vire
Vire is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.- History :In 1123, Henri I Beauclerc, King of England and Duke of Normandy, had a redoubt constructed on a rocky hill top, which was surrounded by the Vire river...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in Normandy.-History:Originally called Briovère , the town is built on and around ramparts. Originally it was a Gaul fortified settlement...
, Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx. 15 km north-east of Heerlen and 20 km north of Aachen....
, Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
, Mortain
Mortain
Mortain is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-Geography:Mortain is situated on a rocky hill rising above the gorge of the Cance, a tributary of the Sélune.-Administration:Mortain is the seat of a canton...
, Nancy, Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines
Sarreguemines is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the seat of an arrondissement.-Geography:...
, and the Elbe River.
Promoted to Assistant Commander of the 35th Division in 1945, when the war ended, Miltonberger was assigned to the War Department personnel section. In 1946 he was nominated by President Truman to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Due to poor health, Miltonberger retired in 1947.
Throughout his military career, Miltonberger was recognized with various medals and awards including the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the French Croix de guerre, and the Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
. After his retirement in 1947, Miltonberger returned to Nebraska. He spent time in North Platte as well as in Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
where he worked as a member of the Nebraska State Engineering staff.
Butler B. Miltonberger died at his home outside of North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River...
, on March 23, 1977. He is buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery
Fort McPherson National Cemetery
Fort McPherson National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery, located south of the village of Maxwell in Lincoln County, Nebraska. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, it had 8,355 interments.- History :...
near Maxwell, Nebraska
Maxwell, Nebraska
Maxwell is a village in Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the North Platte, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 315 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Maxwell is located at ....
.