| Harry C. Butcher | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1, 1901 Springfield, Iowa |
| Died | April 20, 1985 (aged 83) Santa Barbara, California |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy Reserve |
| Years of service | 1939-1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Other work | Broadcaster Radio & Television consultant |
Harry C. Butcher (November 1, 1901 - April 20, 1985) was a radio broadcaster who served during World War II as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1942 to 1945.
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Butcher was born in Springfield, Iowa on November 1, 1901. Following his graduation from Iowa State College, in 1929 Butcher began a career in radio broadcasting.[1] 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.
During his tenure at WJSV, Butcher was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve (U.S.N.R.) on September 16, 1939. From 1942 to 1945, Butcher served as the Naval Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower.[2] 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".[3]
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, California. 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.