Herman John Bottcher (born Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher; July 13, 1909 – December 31, 1944) was an American soldier born in Germany, who was awarded the rank of captain in two different armies, the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War and the United States Army during World War II.

Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger immediately promoted him from Staff Sergeant to Captain for his leadership and heroism during the battle from December 5–11, 1942.

During the Great Depression, Bottcher was a student at San Francisco State College and studied Sociology, applying for American citizenship in 1933 in a procedure of the time referred to as "first papers".

In 1937, Bottcher interrupted his college studies to fight in the Spanish Civil War, which pitted the pro-Republican loyalists against a nationalist coalition led (among others) by General Francisco Franco.

[3] Because he was not yet a citizen and had interrupted his residence while fighting in Spain, as with many non-citizen veterans of the Spanish Civil War, Bottcher was forced to apply for his first papers again, which he did in San Francisco in 1939.

The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bottcher reported to his local draft board in San Francisco, where he lived at 239 Ramsell Street, to volunteer for service.

After boot camp and training, he was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division, a former National Guard unit composed of men originally from Wisconsin and Michigan.

However, while slated for duty in Europe and awaiting embarkation for Northern Ireland, in the spring of 1942, the 32nd Division was diverted from Fort Devens in Massachusetts to California for staging and transport to the South West Pacific Theater.

While the division was en route to the Southwest Pacific on board seven Matson Line ships, pressed into wartime service, Herman was promoted to staff sergeant.

[10]: 109 On November 16, 1942, US forces joined the already battling Australian troops in the region and commenced to attack the Imperial Japanese Army stronghold at Buna, Sanananda and Gona.

On December 5, 1942, when "H" Company and sister units were pinned down by enemy fire, Bottcher took the initiative and led a 31-strong detachment forward against the attacking force.

[11] Australian war correspondent George Johnston reported in Time magazine on September 20, 1943: The American, Herman Bottcher, led twelve volunteers into the Japanese positions, built fortifications on the beach.

[13] In June 1943, Bottcher returned to the 32nd Division and was assigned to Company "A" of the 127th Regiment and participated in the Saidor invasion and Aitape campaigns in New Guinea as part of the greater Operation Cartwheel.

Recon troop withdrawing west ..."[14] Captain (later Major) Dick Tucker, sent the following message to the news wires: "Captain Herman Bottcher, veteran soldier in the fight against Fascism, hero of the battle of Buna and reconnaissance-troop commander, whose exploits had become legend among the men who were fighting the Pacific war, lay dead on a hill overlooking Silad Bay.

In this work, found in the Taubman Museum of Art's permanent collection, located in Roanoke, Virginia, a mourner kneels beside Bottcher's grave, marked with a cross and his helmet and covered with a palm leaf, and looks toward Heaven.