Beyond laying down a smoke screen, Butler attacked enemy warships with her torpedoes before engaging at shorter ranges with her deck guns. Much to the surprise of the Americans, the Japanese fleet began their retreat rather than risk more damage which protected the inbound Allied transports. Butler then remained on station to recover crew thrown into the water from the sinking of USS St. Lo, an escort carrier which took a kamikaze strike. The force returned to Pearl Harbor (with Butler escorting) and Butler made her way to Manus in mid-December. She was used to cover the landings at Luzon thereafter and, in January of 1945, her determined crew drove off a wave of kamikaze attacks. The vessel then took part in protecting the carrier force at Lingayen Gulf (South China Sea).
Her next contribution to the war effort was the campaign at Iwo Jima, part of the final push by the Allies en route to Tokyo. She went on to support the Okinawa amphibious landings where Butler was used as a screening vessel to protect the waves of ground forces coming ashore. Beyond this duty, she was used as fleet protection and in Search And Rescue (SAR) and Search And Destroy (SAD) sorties as necessary. She took damage from kamikaze attacks on May 20th, 1945 as six warplanes attacked her - her gunnery crews managing to down five of the assailants - her damage proved minimal so she remained in the fight.
Her final actions of World War 2 included convoy escort before her eventually return to the American West Coast. With the Grand War officially over by way of the Japanese surrender of August 1945, she was decommissioned from active service on June 26th, 1946.
Her days in retirement did not last long for the Butler was recommissioned on December 27th, 1950 for service in the Korean War and, as part of the 11th Naval District, she undertook training actions. With the war over in 1953, she was decommissioned for the second, and last, time on December 18th, 1957. Her stripped hulk was spent as a target in 1971.
During her storied wartime career, USS John C. Butler earned a total of five Battle Stars and her various awards included a Presidential unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.