Biography
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Staff Sergeant Henry Lawrence Butts is the son of the late Bishop Henry L. and Missionary Willie Mae Butts. At the age of 6, he and his family moved to Daytona Beach, FL. He attended Westside Elementary School, Holly Hill Junior High, and graduated from Mainland Sr. High School. Butts has also received a Computer Technical degree from Keiser College, Daytona Beach. He holds four Microsoft Professional Certifications in Computer Management Systems and Networking and has received Certifications from the United States Marines Corps, Quantico, VA, for computer security and networking. His work experience includes working as a member of the Safety and Security team at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach and in the Volusia County public school system as a substitute teacher and Football coach at Atlantic High school. Since 1998 Butts has been apart of the Bethune-Cookman College family serving as Network Administrator in the Center for Information Technology department.
Butts desire to serve others started as a youth, when he volunteered at the Daily Bread Feeding Program, started in 1983 by his parents, which has helped to provide over 800,000 hot meals to needy people in the community. Butts volunteers as a youth leader and Sunday school teacher at Butts Miracle Temple COGIC and he has also coached little league soccer at the local Daytona Beach YMCA. In 2001, Butts felt compelled to do more. Saddened and appalled by the senseless deaths of thousands of innocent people on 9/11, at the age of 32, Butts enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to pledge himself to the cause of defending our country from its enemies. As apart of the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he played a vital role in humanitarian relief for the Iraqi civilians that he encountered during convoys on the way to Baghdad and while patrolling Baghdad’s neighborhoods. For his commitment and dedication Butts has received 13 notable service awards such as the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation-Navy and the Combat Action Ribbon. In 2003, Butts became the liaison for the United States Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program in the Daytona Beach area. Since then, it has helped put smiles on the faces of 12,000 disadvantage children; providing them with toys during the holiday season.
Butts accomplishments up until this point prove that he is a courageous and compassionate leader.
“He displayed excellent decision-making skills and calmness while engaged against hostile forces, which helped him to lead those Marines under his charge. He displayed this calmness under fire during the battle for Al Kut as well as numerous other engagements.”
F. Arroyo: Commanding Officer
Henry Butts' commanding officer credits him as being a highly effective and mature leader whose maturity and work ethic are way above board. In his letter of recommendation his commanding officer went on to say that “Cpl. Butts can handle any task or mission assigned”.
APRIL 2006 - After immediately identifying the location of the improvised explosive device. Sgt Butts halted the mounted convoy and notified his fellow Marines of the imminent threat. EOD team arrived and verified that Sergeant Butts keen eye and disciplined counter improvised explosive device tactics not only ensured the safety of the Marines in his Patrol, but it also potentially saved the lives of other fellow Marines patrolling in that area later on. Sgt Butts outstanding motivation and dedication to duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
"N. L. COOLING LIEUTENANT COLONEL, USMC COMMANDING"
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