On Friday, March 2, 2012, John and Mary Ann Butz, joined us at the Career Center to commemorate the life of Jim Butz, who died in combat on 9/28/011. Jim was a Career Center student and graduated from Chesterton HS in 2009. He was a football player and wrestler at CHS and a Health Occupations student at the Career Center. He enlisted in the Army after high school and became an airborne medic.
The ceremony held here was to commemorate the memorial plaque now posted in our foyer.
The plaque reads as follows:
Recognition of a Hero
Jim Butz, Health Occupations,’08-09, CHS,
26 July 1990 – 28 Sept 2011
Spec. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, died September 28, 2011 in Helmand province. Jim is a 2009 graduate of Chesterton HS and a former Health Occupations student at the Career Center. He was a serious and sensitive young man, who was excited to become an EMT and later become an airborne medic. Jim was doing his medic job rushing to treat injured soldiers when an IED was exploded. He was serving in the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C.
His awards include the Purple Heart, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal, a Combat Action Badge and a Parachutist Badge.
The Career Center is proud of Jim and his service; he died a hero to his country. He will be missed by many.
Jim is the first PCCTC graduate known to have given his life in combat for our country. The ceremony included comments by his father, and our principal Mr. Groth (also a veteran), and another Career Center veteran, Tony Avalos, who teaches Auto Technology. Also attending was our Health Occupations students and one student, Toni Greco (active duty, National Guard), who is the sister of one of Jim’s ‘09 Health Occupations graduates.
Please view this video tribute to Jim prepared by our Media Productions student, Precious Pabon (Hebron HS) and Kyle Gilbert (Chesterton HS), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFld2YHDggI&hd=1
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1005 N Franklin St
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-531-3170