Claire E. Hutchin Jr.
Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. (born January 9, 1916 in Washington , Illinois - † June 22, 1980 in Severna Park, Anne Arundel County , Maryland ) was an American officer and lieutenant general in the US Army , recognized for his military merits and Bravery in the Korean War was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice, the second highest military award after the Medal of Honor . Later he was also from 1964 to 1966 commander of the 4th Infantry Division ( 4th Infantry Division ) , 1969-1971 Commanding General of the Fifth US Corps ( V Corps ) and most recently from 1971 to 1973 Commanding General of the First US Army ( First US Army ) was.
Life
Officer training, World War II and the post-war period
Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. was the older child and only son of lawyer Claire Elwood Hutchin and his wife, Helen F. Hutchin. He began officer training at the US Military Academy in West Point in 1934 . Once finished, he was in 1938 as a lieutenant (Second Lieutenant) adopted the infantry in the US Army and served initially to July 1941 in the in Fort Benning stationed 29th Infantry Regiment. During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the entry of the United States into World War II on December 8, 1941, he was Assistant Staff Officer for Administration (G 1) of the 4th Infantry Division and then graduated from Command and General in early 1942 Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth . Subsequently, in April 1942, he took over the post as staff officer for intelligence services (G 2) of the 7th Infantry Division ( 7th Infantry Division ) in Ford Ord .
In 1943 Hutchin became a staff officer for operations and planning (G 3) in the staff of the IX. U.S. Corps ( IX Corps ) . In late 1943 he was given the wartime rank (Wartime Commission) of Lieutenant Colonel and he was transferred to the United Planning Staff (Joint Planning Staff) of the US Command for Southeast Asia SEAC ( South East Asia Command ) . After the war, he moved to the Ministry of War (US Department of War) , where he was an officer in the Office of Strategy of the Department of Operations of the General Staff. In November 1946, assistive Second Officer (Assistant Executive Officer ) of the General George C. Marshall led the special mission of US President Harry S. Truman to China . In 1947 he returned to China again as a member of the US President's mission under General Albert Wedemeyer . At the end of 1947 he was first secretary and then staff officer for planning in the Joint Staff of the Commander-in-Chief for the Pacific CINCPAC ( Commander-in-Chief, Pacific ) .
Korean War
At the beginning of the Korean War , Lieutenant Colonel (Lieutenant Colonel) Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment. On August 18, 1950, B Company B of his battalion formed a reconnaissance unit, the aim of which was to conduct a combined tank, infantry and artillery attack in the northern part of Hill 409. In order to better control these forces, he set up his front observation post on a hill immediately behind the enemy's. As the attack progressed, it became increasingly clear that the best vantage point from which to control the entire operation was the battalion's observation post. After the Fein identified Lieutenant Colonel Hutchin's position as the commandant's observation post, heavy mortar and machine gun fire opened on him. Regardless of this extremely severe fire, he remained in his exposed position and directed the operation. For these services he was awarded the Silver Star on October 11, 1950 .
His battalion was attacked in overwhelming numbers on a broad front held by the 1st Battalion near Changyong on August 31, 1950 by North Korean forces. Faced with an almost certain disaster, Hutchin devised a plan to assemble his battalion and turn it into an effective force. For exceptional heroism in combat, he was then awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the first time on December 14, 1950 , the second highest military award after the Medal of Honor .
From November 25 to 30, 1950, Hutchin again distinguished himself through exceptional heroism against enemy attackers near Kujang-dong. During this time, the 1st Battalion was involved in a number of defensive actions, counterattacks and retreats led by the 23rd Infantry Regiment against overwhelming forces of enemy forces. On the morning of November 28, 1950, Company C was driven from their positions by an outnumbered enemy unit, resulting in a loss of equipment and weapons, and the company was completely disorganized. When he learned that all officers of the company and the majority of the NCOs were either killed or wounded in this operation, he reorganized the remains of the company and personally led the remaining men to a counterattack. In view of the extremely heavy enemy firearms, he personally led this operation and it was possible to recover most of the lost equipment. This relieved C Company C, which was surrounded. That afternoon, when the 1st Battalion was designated as the rearguard for the withdrawal of the 2nd Infantry Division from Kujang-dong, he personally took over command of the rearguard unit, which consisted only of one rifle company and one tank company. During the ensuing attacks by the superior force of two enemy battalions, he was wounded in the face by shrapnel, but he retained control and directed the defensive actions of the rearguard. For these military achievements and his bravery, he was honored for the second time with the Distinguished Service Cross on July 19, 1951.
Promotion to lieutenant general and retirement
After the end of the Korean War, Claire Hutchin found numerous other uses as an officer and staff officer. As the successor of Major General Frederick R. Zierath , he took over as Major General (Major General) in September 1963 as commander of the 4th Infantry Division ( 4th Infantry Division ) stationed in Fort Carson "Ivy Division", and kept this until his replacement by Major General Arthur S. Collins, Jr. in June 1965. As Lieutenant General (Lieutenant General) he served between July 1967 and August 1969 as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the US Pacific Command ( US Pacific Command ) and was there for his services first honored with the Army Distinguished Service Medal .
On September 15, 1969, Lieutenant General Hutchin succeeded Lieutenant General Andrew Boyle as commanding general of the V Corps ( V Corps ) stationed in Frankfurt am Main and remained in this post until January 23, 1971, after which Lieutenant General Willard Pearson took him on May 14. February 1971. After his return to the USA in 1971 he replaced Lieutenant General Jonathan O. Seaman as Commanding General of the First US Army ( First US Army ) at Fort George G. Meade and held this post until he retired from active military service and entered the military retired in 1973. His successor was then Lieutenant General Glenn D. Walker . In 1973 he was again awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his services in this capacity.
After his retirement, Claire Elwood Hutchin dedicated, Jr. 1973-1977 as Executive Director of the Maryland Bicentennial Commission , responsible for planning, program coordination and management of the 200-year celebrations of the state was responsible. He has also worked in numerous organizations such as the Association of the US Army , the Maryland State Cancer Crusade and the Council of Greater Baltimore of the United Service Organizations (USO), a non-profit organization whose aim is the support and welfare of the US armed forces and their relatives. The Boy Scouts of America named him the Eagle Scout Class of 1930 and also presented him with the National Eagle Scout Association's Distinguished Eagle Scout Award .
From his 1938 marriage with Katherine Porter Steel came the two daughters Katherine and Marion and the two sons Claire III and William Hutchin. After his death he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards
Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :
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Distinguished Service Cross (2 ×) -
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2 ×) -
Silver Star
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Legion of Merit (x5) -
Bronze Star (2 x) -
Purple heart
Web links
- LTG Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. in Military Hall of Valor
- Claire Elwood Hutchin in The Hall of Valor Project
- Claire E. Hutchin junior in the database of Find a Grave (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hutchin, Claire E. Junior |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Hutchin, Claire Elwood junior (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American military, Lieutenant General in the US Army |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 9, 1916 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Washington , Illinois |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 22, 1980 |
| Place of death | Severna Park, Anne Arundel County , Maryland |