Join us this Friday at the Embassy Suites to welcome John Butler, Chairman Emeritus for the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association. John is a Vietnam veteran and served as the Project Manager for the Vietnam War Memorial project dedicated on October 5 in Brook Run Park. John led the process to design, fund, and build the stunning $1.2 Million memorial honoring the nearly 400,000 soldiers who gave their lives for freedom from Communism during the Vietnam War. That three-year process included combining the dreams and desires of Vietnamese Refugees (both war veterans and civilians) and Vietnam Veterans who served in all branches of the U.S. Military. More than 300 volunteers and donors participated, about half from Vietnam and half from America. Dunwoody Rotarians and the Club were proud to contribute to this project.
After graduating from college with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Computer Science in the late 60’s, John served in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Lieutenant. He served in Germany as a Field Artillery Platoon Leader, then in Vietnam as a Forward Observer for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and finally as the Battalion Fire Direction Officer for the 2nd of the 94th Heavy Artillery Battalion positioned on the Laotian border near the DMZ. In addition to other medals, he was awarded a Bronze Star for his combat service in Vietnam.
After returning from Vietnam, John worked in the computer industry as a business solutions provider for 27 years, a church consultant for 12 years, then as a healthcare consultant for senior adults and their families starting in 2009. After “officially retiring” in April, 2021, he now serves Seniors and Veterans as a volunteer in a number of ways. In addition to leading the Vietnam War Memorial Project, John serves: