"Geil Evans Butler has captured the chaos and joy that comes
from moving around the world and building a life in a different
country. But what is special here is the country, Japan—less
than 10 years after WWII—Geil, her daughter Bonnie and
husband Bill, move to Tokyo and begin daunting task of having
a life.
"Butler is candid about her fears, her homesickness, and the plain
brutal truth that she was half way around the world with a 10
year old daughter. She doesn't pull many punches and we are
left to wonder how she coped.
"But Butler eventually comes to terms with her life in Japan,
learning about the culture, the people, and ultimately—as the
reader hopes—about herself. The story is plainly told in a
matter-of-fact way without over stating the experience. Through
the narrative we become involved in her life and her adventures.
"I had the privilege of being part of this book. My mother,
Jeanne Ley, was Butler's best friend—and remains so to this
day. I remember many of the family outings even though I was
a small boy at the time. This story rings true 50 years after the
fact, reading it was deva vu. Bravo to Geil Butler for sharing
this wonderful journey. I hope she got her medal."
Rodney J. Ley
Fort Collins, Colorado
"Steve Hartman, the reporter on 'The CBS Evening News with Dan
Rather,' specializes in human interest stories. He goes into a town or
city, locates a telephone directory, and points at random to a name. Not
surprisingly, when he and the television crew arrive at the address, he
finds that the person he has blindly chosen has a story to tell.
"If the name of Geil Evans Butler of Rantoul were found by Steve
Hartman, he would discover that she has already told part of her story in
'Pin a Medal on Me.'
"Ms. Butler, with her young daughter, sailed to Japan in 1954 to
join her husband Bill, a sergeant in the Air Force. The voyage was
difficult; the cabins were overcrowded; and there was much seasickness from
the violent storms. Once in Tokyo, the Butlers lived off-base, on the
economy.
"Ms. Butler describes in detail her psychological state during her
early months in what was to her a strange, exotic environment. Their house
was cramped and difficult to heat. She could not speak Japanese. She was
isolated, homesick and depressed, suffering from culture shock not felt by
her husband, who had been previously stationed in Japan and who had regular
duties to perform with fellow American military people.
"Ms. Butler, in her unhappy state, made life difficult for her
husband, and at one point he told her: 'I don't know what's wrong with you.
You've never been like this. If you keep this up, the way you've been, by
God you can just go home. It's no joy for me having you here if you're
going to be like this.'
"Slowly Ms. Butler began to change her attitude and adjust to life
in Japan. With the help of their maid Kimiko, who spoke some English and
could translate for her, she was also able to shop in local stores. The
Butlers' nine-year-old daughter Bonnie initially had difficulties in
adjusting to her new school on base but eventually began to fit in,
relieving some of Ms. Butler's worries. Geil Butler made friends with
Jeanne Ley, wife of an Air Force major. The Leys at first lived in the
small complex of houses with the Butlers. Bill and Ed Ley also became
friends, breaking the usual rules against fraternization.
"Ms. Butler's 'Pin A Medal On Me' will appeal to readers in
east-central Illinois, for she was born near Rantoul and has lived an
active life in Rantoul since returning from Japan. It is easy to tell from
her book that she is a Midwesterner. She has been deeply involved in her
community life for many years now, and in 1999 she received the Studs
Terkel Humanities Service Award for her role in preserving the history of
her home town.
"Ms. Butler's story will also appeal to veterans and their families
who lived in Japan, Germany and many other countries soon after World War
II.
"In years to come, as scholars are assessing the role of U.S.
military forces stationed in Japan, they will undoubtedly refer to Ms.
Butler's book in their chapters on social history.
"Geil Evans Butler had a story to tell and she tells it well."
George Hendrick
Professor Emeritus of English
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
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