Harry C. Butcher
Encyclopedia
Harry C. Butcher was a radio broadcaster who served during World War II
as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower
from 1942 to 1945.
on November 1, 1901. Following his graduation from Iowa State College, in 1929 Butcher began a career in radio broadcasting. He opened the Washington, D.C.
office of CBS
and served as its director until 1932. From 1932 to 1934 he was the manager of Radio Station WJSV (later WTOP-FM
) in Washington, D.C. From 1934 to 1942 he was vice president in charge of WJSV
in Washington, D.C.
(U.S.N.R.) on September 16, 1939. From 1942 to 1945, Butcher served as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On May 1, 1943, Butcher was promoted to the rank of Commander in the U.S.N.R. On November 1, 1944 he was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain. Following an order given to him by Eisenhower, Butcher kept a diary of his and Eisenhower's wartime activities. The diary would come to be published in 1946 under the title "My Three Years with Eisenhower." It also led to historian Max Hastings
referring to him as "the embodiment of all gossip-ridden staff officers".
. He also served as president of Santa Barbara's cable TV corporation. He also served as a radio and television consultant.
On April 20, 1985, Butcher died in Santa Barbara, California.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
from 1942 to 1945.
Early Life
Butcher was born in Springfield, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
on November 1, 1901. Following his graduation from Iowa State College, in 1929 Butcher began a career in radio broadcasting. He opened the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
office of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and served as its director until 1932. From 1932 to 1934 he was the manager of Radio Station WJSV (later WTOP-FM
WTOP-FM
WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
) in Washington, D.C. From 1934 to 1942 he was vice president in charge of WJSV
WJSV
-Educational WJSV :WJSV is a student-run radio station in Morristown, New Jersey. WJSV is run by students of Morristown High School and owned by the Morris School District. WJSV, first bought by the Morris School District in 1971, generally broadcasts Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm...
in Washington, D.C.
Military Career
During his tenure at WJSV, Butcher was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy ReserveUnited States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
(U.S.N.R.) on September 16, 1939. From 1942 to 1945, Butcher served as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On May 1, 1943, Butcher was promoted to the rank of Commander in the U.S.N.R. On November 1, 1944 he was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain. Following an order given to him by Eisenhower, Butcher kept a diary of his and Eisenhower's wartime activities. The diary would come to be published in 1946 under the title "My Three Years with Eisenhower." It also led to historian Max Hastings
Max Hastings
Sir Max Hugh Macdonald Hastings, FRSL is a British journalist, editor, historian and author. He is the son of Macdonald Hastings, the noted British journalist and war correspondent and Anne Scott-James, sometime editor of Harper's Bazaar.-Life and career:Hastings was educated at Charterhouse...
referring to him as "the embodiment of all gossip-ridden staff officers".
Later Life
Butcher returned to the broadcasting world following the end of the war. From 1946 to the 1970s, Butcher owned a radio station in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. He also served as president of Santa Barbara's cable TV corporation. He also served as a radio and television consultant.
On April 20, 1985, Butcher died in Santa Barbara, California.