Claire E. Hutchin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Claire E. Hutchin, Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. 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.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 196 (December 14, 1950)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Claire E. Hutchin, Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. 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.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 558 (July 19, 1951)