Second Lieutenant Hutchens was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a F-84E Thunderjet fighter with the 522nd Fighter-Escort Squadron, 27th Fighter-Escort Wing, detailed to the 6164th Tactical Control Squadron. He died of other causes on 12 February 1951 near Yangdogwon-ni, South Korea.

Hutchens was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.