“I felt very honored and appreciated at the pinning ceremony,” says Smokey. They currently live in Creston, where Smokey is receiving care from EveryStep Hospice’s Mount Ayr team at his home. Smokey and his wife, Rhonda, met in high school, but were married much later in life after each had been divorced. “After basic, I was sent to Camp Eagle in Phu Bai Combat Base in South Vietnam, where I worked in the Transportation department hauling supplies to the 101 st Airborne.”Īfter discharge from the Army, Smokey worked at Longfellow Drilling in Clearfield, Iowa for 34 years and his three children graduated from Diagonal School. “I was sent to basic training in Fort Polk, Louisiana in September of 69,” remembers Smokey. In April 1969, Smokey was inducted into the Army at Fort Des Moines. James grew up in Benton, Iowa and went to high school in Mount Ayr, where his math teacher gave him the nickname “Smokey” - a nickname that has stuck with him throughout his life. The ceremony was held at Clearview Nursing Home in Mount Ayr. Back row (L-R): Dennis Abel, Vietnam Army combat duty Michael Schaefer, Air National Guard Vietnam era.Īrmy veteran James “Smokey” Butler of Creston was honored May 3, 2022, with a veteran “pinning” ceremony arranged by the EveryStep Hospice team in Mount Ayr. Front row (L-R): Jake Dailey, EveryStep Hospice volunteer and 100-year-old WWII Navy combat duty and James “Smokey” Butler. Pictured above: During an honorary ceremony hosted by EveryStep Hospice, Veterans from multiple eras gather to honor Army veteran James “Smokey” Butler (front row, at right), who served in combat duty during the Vietnam War. Ceremony in Mount Ayr Honors Vietnam Veteran James 'Smokey' Butler

Clearview nursing home mount ayr iowa