Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr.
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. was named after his father, a lawyer who was in military service in World War I.

Hutchin was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy in 1934 from Washington, where his father was posted at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He graduated with the class of 1938. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, GA, until July 1941.

When the U.S. entered into World War II, Hutchin was Assistant Staff Officer G1 (Administration) for the 4th Infantry Division until attending the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, in early 1942. In April 1942, Hutchin became Assistant G2 (Intelligence) officer for the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, CA.

In 1943, he was Assistant G3 (Operations and Plans) staff officer for IX Corps. Later that year he received a wartime commission as a Lieutenant Colonel and a posting with the Southeast Asia Command Joint Planning Staff. After the war, he transferred to the War Department general staff operations division strategy section. In November 1946, Hutchin was Assistant Executive Officer for General George C. Marshall's special presidential mission to China. He returned to China as part of General Albert Coady Wedemeyer's presidential mission in late 1947. By the end of the year, Hutchin was joint secretary, then joint planner, with the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) joint staff.

In the Korean War, Hutchin was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross while commanding the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment against the Chinese offensive from 25-30 November 1950 around Kujangdong, Korea. Hutchin was engaged in a series of defensive actions, counterattacks and withdrawals against superior enemy forces when his Company C was overrun and suffered losses of combat leadership and material. Taking personal command, he recovered the disorganized elements of the company, recovered the unit's original position and relieved troops surrounded when the position was overrun. Later, his battalion was assigned as the rear guard to the 2nd Infantry Division withdrawal from Kujangdong and resisted the two enemy battalions with a single rifle company and armored company.

As a Major General, Hutchin commanded the 4th Infantry Division from September 1963 to June 1965. From July 1967 to August 1969, Lieutenant General Hutchin was Deputy Commander / Chief of Staff for U.S. Pacific Command. From 1969-71, LTG Hutchin served as Commanding General, V Corps, Frankfurt, Germany. Hutchin then commanded the First U.S. Army at Fort Meade, MD, from 1971 until his retirement in 1973.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal
American Defense Service Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star and Arrowhead Device
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star
United Nations Service Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st Award)

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Hutchin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Changyong, Korea, on 31 August 1950. On that date, the North Korean forces made a fierce attack in overwhelming numbers along the entire sixteen thousand yard front being held by the 1st Battalion, and broke through the river defenses of Companies B and C almost immediately. In the face of almost certain disaster, Colonel Hutchin formulated a plan for assembling his battalion and reorganizing it into an effective fighting force. This was accomplished with such success that the enemy was prevented from making any further penetration. During the entire battle the 1st Battalion was under constant attack by an enemy with apparently unlimited manpower. In the course of the action the enemy suffered over three hundred casualties. In all of this extremely difficult time, Colonel Hutchin maintained an attitude of cheerful confidence, and personally led units and men into designated positions, exposing himself to the enemy fire constantly while doing so. His coolness and decisive actions were the major factor in maintaining a strong "pocket" behind the enemy's front lines astride one of the enemy's main supply routes. In the course of this action, a counterattacking battalion from another American unit was cut off and surrounded in the vicinity of the 1st Battalion, and Colonel Hutchin, on his own initiative, assumed command of these additional forces in his area, organizing the positions of both battalions in such a way that further enemy attacks were completely futile. For a period of almost two days, Colonel Hutchin continuously exposed himself to what appeared to be certain death in order to maintain the morale of his men. His cheerfulness and confidence during this period were unfailing, and a source of tremendous inspiration to all of his officers and men.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 196 (December 14, 1950)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd Award)

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while Commanding 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Hutchin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Kujang-dong, Korea, from 25 through 30 November 1950. During this period, the 1st Battalion was engaged in a series of defensive actions, counterattacks and withdrawals being conducted against superior enemy forces by the 23d Infantry Regiment. On the morning of 28 November 1950, Company C was driven from its positions by a numerically superior enemy unit, with a resultant loss of equipment and weapons and the company was completely disorganized. Learning that all the company officers and a majority of the senior noncommissioned officers were either killed or wounded in this engagement, Colonel Hutchin quickly went to the unit's position, reorganized the remnants of the company, and personally led the remaining men in a counterattack to regain the positions. In the face of extremely heavy enemy small-arms fire, Colonel Hutchin personally directed and led this operation, succeeded in recovering the greater part of the lost equipment, and relieved groups of men of Company C who had been surrounded when the positions were overrun. That afternoon, when the 1st Battalion was designated as rear guard for the Second Division's withdrawal from Kujang-dong, Colonel Hutchin personally took command of the rear guard element, consisting of one rifle company and a company of tanks. The pursuing enemy force, estimated at two battalions, pressed hard on the rear of the division's column, which was forced to move slowly due to traffic congestion. Each time the column was forced to halt, the enemy would attack the rear guard from both flanks, using small arms, automatic weapons and grenades. During one of these attacks, Colonel Hutchin was painfully wounded in the face by flying shrapnel, but remained in control, brilliantly directing the defensive actions of the rear guard with outstanding success.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 558 (July 19, 1951)

Honors

Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. became an Eagle Scout in the Eagle Scout class of 1930. He was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the National Eagle Scout Association.

In Retirement

From 1973 – 1977 Lt. General Hutchin served as Executive Director of the Maryland Bicentennial Commission and was responsible for Commission plans, programs, coordination and management of Bicentennial activities on behalf of the Commissioners; public speaking, collaboration and coordination with federal, state, county and civic groups. The Commission functions are to help develop and coordinate plans of public and private agencies for the commemoration of the American Revolutionary Era.

Claire and Katherine Hutchin were well known for their numerous volunteer activities. The General was active in organizations such as the Association of the U.S. Army, the Boy Scouts of America, the Maryland State Cancer Crusade, and the USO Council of Greater Baltimore.

Family

Claire married Katherine Porter Steel in 1938 and they had two daughters, Katherine and Marion, and two sons, Claire III and William.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant General Claire Elwood Hutchin, Jr. died on 22 June 1980. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 30, Site 1014.