About Butz-Jobe Post 370

Who Were Butz & Jobe? (Originally written by Ron Becherer, May 2015; updated July 2019) 

Bertram Butz was born June 2, 1917. His family resided in the 2000 block of Lebanon Avenue, Belleville, IL. He was a devoted student and graduated from one of the early classes of St. Teresa School, which opened its doors on September 8, 1926. He graduated in 1931. 

During his military service in the U.S. Army, he held the position of Technician Level 5 (Sergeant) in Headquarters Company, 17th Tank Battalion, 7th Armored Division. Tragically, he was killed in action on October 28, 1944, near Meijel, Netherlands, and is buried in Greenmount Catholic Cemetery in Belleville, IL. 

Robert Jobe, born on November 23, 1921, lived with his family in the 1100 block of North Church Street, Belleville, IL. He was well-liked by his classmates and neighbors. 

Robert served in the US Army Air Corps with the 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group. His B17G plane was shot down over Dermbach, Germany, on February 22, 1944. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He is interred at the Netherlands American Military Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. 

Bertram and Robert are among the 16 million men and women who served in the U.S. military during World War II; due to material shortages during the war, only about 1 in 4 men were in uniform. 

During the war, Monsignor William Hoff took the initiative to pay the Catholic War Veterans membership dues for every man from St. Teresa Parish who served in the military. Each of Belleville's six parishes at that time hosted their own Catholic War Veterans posts. 

As the war neared its end on August 8, 1945, the six posts combined to form one unified post, which was named in honor of the first Catholic heroes to die during the war. This new entity became known as the Catholic War Veterans Post Butz-Jobe 370. Fifteen men from St. Teresa Parish were charter members of this distinguished post, though sadly, all have since passed away. 

Today, many parishioners and veterans from Belleville, Freeburg, O’Fallon, and Smithton proudly belong to Butz-Jobe Post 370, which has been serving the community for 80 years. 

Located at 3535 State Route 159, Butz-Jobe Post 370 invites you to enjoy a delicious fish, chicken, or pizza dinner any Wednesday through Sunday evening. You can also participate in the Queen of Hearts game on Thursday nights. This post provides numerous opportunities to connect with fellow veterans, whether at the post or at nearby Veterans Hospitals like Jefferson Barracks, John J. Cochran, or even at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. 

Next time you drive past the post on Route 159, take a moment to notice the statue of Our Lady of the Highways and the statue of St. Sebastian, the patron saint of Catholic War Veterans. Say a prayer for Bertram Butz, Robert Jobe, and all military men and women who have sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy. 

The Catholic War Veterans continue to serve our community, our country, and their fellow veterans. Remember to thank every veteran and active military man and woman for their service to our great country. God Bless the USA!

To promote service to God, Country, and fellow man through the understanding of Christian values recognized by the Catholic Church; to support local veterans, youth, and community organizations, and to strengthen our Catholic faith, we engage actively in our Catholic War Veterans posts.