The Butler Family
Staff Sergeant Wesley Butler has spent 15 of the last 25 years of his life serving in the United States Army. Butler first enlisted out of Dallas, Texas in 1983 and did overseas tours in Greece and Germany before retiring in 1993. Butler then lived in Germany where he worked as a security contractor at the American Embassy until re-enlisting in 2004. For the next four years Butler was stationed in Bamberg, Germany. In 2008 Butler was deployed to Kirkuk, Irag with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion where he spent a year as a civil affairs specialist. During this time, Butler was diagnosed with stage 2 colon Cancer. After undergoing a series of medical tests in Khattar, Iraq and Longsthul, Germany over a three day period Butler was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in May 2009. While undergoing treatment at BAMC from May to August, Butler and his family of 5 stayed at the Fisher House located on post at Fort Sam Houston. Cramped quarters at the Fisher House along with a lack of privacy was tough on the Butlers, not to mention having to contend with domestic violence and verbal altercations going on around them. Fortunately, just as matters were growing worse, a friend of Butler’s told him about Operation Homefront Village – San Antonio. Thanks to Operation Homefront and the Wal-Mart Foundation the Butler’s are currently living in a rent-free fully furnished 3-bedroom apartment home. Butler recently began chemotherapy and appreciates having some added privacy while he undergoes his cancer treatment. This is especially crucial because during chemo Butler’s immune system is compromised. Butler is hoping to further his education and is currently taking some on-line information technology classes. While at OH Village, the Butlers have also worked with a financial planner to help them prepare for life after the Army. The Butler’s now have their sights set on moving into a new home in the Cibolo, Texas sometime in early 2010.