Butehorn, Joseph

July 24, 1922 - May 10, 1945

Joseph was born in Bethpage in July 24, 1922 to Catherine and Henry A. Butehorn. He was one of five children.

Joe went to Framingdale H. S. He had a great love for sports. Joe was a fantastic basketball player and loved to play softball.

After graduation Joe went to work in Grumman Aircraft. It seems strange that he worked on the same aircraft he was destined to fly in the war.

Joe joined the Marine Air Corp on October 15, 1942.

With Three Stars on his campaign bar and 37 successful missions to his credit Cpl. Joe now a Marine Gunner returned home and visited his Assoc. Grummans.

This young Marine, who for two years welded tanks including Avengers was now a turret gunner on a TBF.

After his leave Joe returned to his base. He was shot down over the Ryukyu Island area.

A special searching team found an isolated grave on Myako Jima containing three bodies. Joe was one of the bodies that was buried.

He was killed in action on May 10, 1945. He was returned and buried in Pinelawn National Cemetery next to his brother, mother and father who was a WWI veteran.

He is survived by his brother Henry Butehorn and sisters Ms. Madeline Cramer and Dorothy Keniski.

In 1945 the returning Bethpage WWII veterans held a meeting at the Powell Avenue Grade School.

Vito DeFanis who is a Charter Member, Past Commander and curretnt Quartermaster explained it was the beginning of the V.F.W. The Butehorn Brothers were selected to be named in honor of the newly formed V.F.W.

Compiled by Joan Poppe, American Legion Auxiliary #86