ANDES H. BUTLER, ENS, USN

Andes Butler '11

Date of birth: July 18, 1890

Date of death: October 13, 1912

Age: 22

Lucky Bag

From the 1911 Lucky Bag:

Andes Hailey Butler

Alexandria, Louisiana

"Pinkie" "Andes"

THIS chubby-faced youth from the land of the sugar cane, is what might be called one of the "characters" of the class. Pinkie is at times very good natured, and on such occasions demonstrates the exuberance of his spirits by sneaking up behind some one and pinching him or boxing his ears. Sometimes gets in trouble for talking too much, but as a rule you'll find Pinkie an agreeable fellow, "be it for a frolic or a fuss." Made a record for himself First Class cruise by having a watch officer suspended from duty. Being small, strong as an ox, and quick tempered, Pinkie frequently finds himself wanting to start a scrap, but his better judgment always rules and he compromises by simply sticking out his chin at you.

"Mr. Butler may be a Wiz with the omnimeter but he's not much on the brain work."

Andes Hailey Butler was born on July 18th, 1890, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He attended St. Francis Xavier's Commercial College at Alexandria for six years, after which he was one year at Rugby Academy, New Orleans, and one year at Louisiana State University.

Andes Hailey Butler

Alexandria, Louisiana

"Pinkie" "Andes"

THIS chubby-faced youth from the land of the sugar cane, is what might be called one of the "characters" of the class. Pinkie is at times very good natured, and on such occasions demonstrates the exuberance of his spirits by sneaking up behind some one and pinching him or boxing his ears. Sometimes gets in trouble for talking too much, but as a rule you'll find Pinkie an agreeable fellow, "be it for a frolic or a fuss." Made a record for himself First Class cruise by having a watch officer suspended from duty. Being small, strong as an ox, and quick tempered, Pinkie frequently finds himself wanting to start a scrap, but his better judgment always rules and he compromises by simply sticking out his chin at you.

"Mr. Butler may be a Wiz with the omnimeter but he's not much on the brain work."

Andes Hailey Butler was born on July 18th, 1890, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He attended St. Francis Xavier's Commercial College at Alexandria for six years, after which he was one year at Rugby Academy, New Orleans, and one year at Louisiana State University.

Loss

Andes was lost on October 13, 1912 when he went overboard from a launch returning to the battleship Rhode Island in the Hudson river.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Andes and two shipmates from the Rhode Island stayed the night in New York City. The ship and others from the Atlantic armada were there for a presidential review. The next morning, they boarded a small private launch to return to the Rhode Island. When 50 feet from the ship, he stepped off the launch – perhaps, thinking there was a running board like on navy launches. His two shipmates dove in after him with one nearly losing his life in the attempt. A wave swept Andes away, and the suction from the battleship carried him under it. His body resurfaced a week later midstream off 127th street in the North River.

Known by his friends as “Jack,” Andes attended St. Francis Xavier’s college in Alexandria. In December 1902, he participated in an oratorical contest on the topic “Curfew Must Not Ring To-Night.” During the next three years, he was often on the honor roll and was listed as being in the Superior Department. He graduated in 1905, and then spent a year at the Rugby School in New Orleans. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman A. J. Pujo. Andes replaced Peter Schnack who resigned due to defective eyesight.
A life-size crucifix to his memory was blessed on August 25, 1913, at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria.
Andes father, also named Andes, died in August 1890. His mother Bettie married grocer Leroy A. Stafford (Naval Academy, Class of 1888) on February 9, 1893. Bettie was the granddaughter of Thomas O. Moore, war governor, and Henry M. Hyams. Andes’ stepfather was the son of General Leroy A. Stafford, C. S. A., killed in the Virginia campaign.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; he was survived by his mother and seven siblings.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.