Veteran American Red Cross volunteer John D. Butler has spent a lifetime in service to others.

 After growing up in the Orlando, Fla., area, Butler joined the United States Marine Corps and served eight years. He deployed to Vietnam as a rocket launcher and later as military police. After an injury, he left the military and went to college to begin his second service career – as an ordained minister and chaplain. 

Butler maintained his military connections as commandeer of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 150. He completed his doctorate degree in counseling and expanded his service to include chaplain to NC Firefighters, chaplain for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and volunteer instructor for FEMA. 

In 2005, Butler joined the Red Cross, taking on a new mission. He serves in his home chapter in Beaumont, Texas, as a Disaster Action Team and Disaster Assessment supervisor and in Mass Care.   

A man who has worn many hats in his service career, in both military and civilian life, Butler agreed to a new role in the Red Cross disaster response to Hurricane Ian: He took evening duty in a large South Econ evacuation shelter in Orlando, doing whatever he could to make residents comfortable.

Meanwhile, he plans to expand his Red Cross service as he completes training in Disaster Spiritual Care.

American Red Cross relief is free to anyone with disaster-caused needs, thanks to the generosity of the American people. To become a trained disaster volunteer, go to redcross.org/volunteer or call 1-800-REDCROSS. 

Written by Diane Weber, American Red Cross