PHOENIX, May 15, 2009
60-Year-Old Vietnam Vet Killed In Iraq
Arizona Major, Retiree Who Reenlisted Last Year, Is Oldest American Casualty
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(U.S. Navy/PO2 Kelvin T. Surgener)
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Army Maj. Steven Hutchison, 60, was killed in Iraq on Sunday after a homemade bomb went off near his vehicle in Al Farr, according to the Department of Defense.
Richard Hutchison of Scottsdale told The Associated Press on Thursday that his big brother Steven wanted to re-enlist immediately after the 9/11 attacks, but that his wife Candy didn't want him to.
But when Candy died of breast cancer, "a part of him died," so he signed up again in July 2007, according to his brother and the Army.
"He was very devoted to the service and to his country," Richard Hutchison said. "For somebody to go back into the military at 60 years old, obviously I didn't want him to do it, but he had a mind of his own and that's what he wanted to do. He's been a soldier his whole life."
He said his brother never explained why he wanted to re-enlist, but that "I'm guessing it had something to do with them coming into our country and killing our people."
"He wanted to go back in," he added. "He wanted to do his share."
He said Steven Hutchison served in Afghanistan for a year after he re-enlisted and went to Iraq in October as a team leader of about a dozen soldiers who would train Iraqi soldiers how to fight. But, he said his brother's mission changed and that he was working to secure Iraq's southern border instead.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said Thursday that Hutchison was the oldest Army soldier killed in Iraq.
An Associated Press database of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that Hutchison is the oldest member of any service branch killed since the wars broke out.
Richard Hutchison said Steven was a great big brother and a best friend who was always looking out for him. "He took care of me," he said.
"I was worried about him. I didn't want him to go (to Iraq)," he said through tears, adding that he loved his brother "so much."
He said Steven Hutchison worked as a college professor of psychology at a couple of California universities and then worked at a private health care corporation in Arizona before he retired a few years ago.
Records at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles show that Hutchison taught in the psychology department there on and off between 1988 and 1996. Hutchison's resume, provided by the school, shows he was a lecturer at California State University in Long Beach, Calif., and taught at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif.
Hutchison was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Long Beach. Steven and Richard have a half brother and half-sister living in Michigan. Steven Hutchison married four times, and was married to Candy for 10 years before she died. He had no children.
Richard Hutchison said his brother will be buried next to Candy in Scottsdale, and that a funeral is tentatively planned for Tuesday.
Hutchison was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Posted by nancy_naive
Have you sacrified anthing for our country? Have you done anything to support America? This man believed in what he was doing. He believed that serving in the military was patriotic. You should be ashamed of yourself in criticising his participation in Vietnam and Iraq. There are still Americans willing to risk their lives for causes they believe in. Then there are others who lack patriotism for a country that has offered them so much opportunity. Many of us will take Major Hutchison over you any day.
This article is to honor a hero. I regret that I do not have enough courage and strength to do what this man did. His sacrifice, despite what the criticizers say, was not in vain, and I as well as 99% of this country's population am eternally grateful that we have volunteers in this country that are willing to protect me and my family by meeting the enemy out on the battlefield.
May God bless his soul.
My condolences to your family, friends, and comrades. Rest in peace, Sir.
If his brother's guess is correct, then he was a either a victim of the Bushbot-neo propaganda machine that even now still has the weak minded convinced that Iraq attacked us, despite all evidence to the contrary, or, in despair after losing his wife, chose to commit suicide by war.
"... show some honor to this man who gave his life for the nation he loved and resepected.
Posted by goes1962"
You' are quite droll goes1962, seeing as how the military action in Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with serving or protecting the nation, the man gave his life for the profits of the Bush klan.
This guy was a real hero.. fighting for his country and for all of us. If we do nothing they will be in our country blowing us up!
by goes1962 May 15, 2009 7:10 AM PDT
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As 60 year old vet myself - I say 'fair balls' to you Major for what you did in service to your country and may you rest in peace.
by j_flood May 15, 2009 7:04 AM PDT
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Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Major Hutchinson
God bless and Godspeed
by excop1949 May 15, 2009 6:24 AM PDT
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I salute you sir. RIP
by wtcmedic911 May 15, 2009 6:58 AM PDT
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Thank you all for your honororium and not politicizing this event.
down for duty in HIS countries' war crimes,,,,
But not Bush and Obama's war crime,,,,,
"Cmon in, fool!,,,,,think yur gonna train some Iraqis???,,,ha ha,,,no no,,
,,,get yur gun and yur old ass down to the border there and do some
guardin',,,,,,,They's actually some people around what takes
offense to us bein' in Iraq.,,,,here,,a tourniguet, some morphine to
suck on and a sponge for at least a chance to squeeze
some blood back in while yur waitin'.
This American hero chose of his own fee will to return to active duty,so age doent matter at all.Instead of saying the nation is desperate for soldiers,show some honor to this man who gave his life for the nation he loved and resepected.
God bless and Godspeed
- by valh1 May 15, 2009 9:21 AM EDT
- What a moving story. I didn't realize someone could enlist at that age. It is great that he had the desire to fight for his country. I salute him and God rest his soul.
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