Oldest Army Soldier Killed In Iraq

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — A 60-year-old reservist from Arizona has become the oldest Army soldier killed in combat in Iraq.

An Army spokesman confirmed Thursday that Maj. Steven Hutchison is the oldest member of that branch to be killed in combat.

According to The Associated Press' database of soldiers killed in Iraq, Hutchison is the oldest member of any branch killed in combat operations.

Hutchison, of Scottsdale, died on Sunday after a homemade bomb went off near his vehicle in Al Farr, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley in Kansas.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2009-05-14-olde...

[Captain Hilts]

1. I know a 60 yr. old reservist who is over there. I guess it's better than a 20yr. old being killed.

Thank you for your service Maj. Hutchinson.

[Old Coot]

2. Why is that?

Is an older person's life worth less than that of a younger person?

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes. They usually are. They've had a chance to live. nt

[Mari333]

5. NOONE should be in Iraq or die in Iraq

no matter what age.

[Captain Hilts]

6. I certainly agree with that. My volunteer work at Bethesda Naval and Walter Reed

has underlined how very young so many of the troops are.

They are grievously wounded yet feel guilty they are not with their outfits in combat.

[mitchum]

16. Society has invested more resources in a 60 year old than a 20 year old...

but I'm a utilitarian, not a sentimentalist

[kestrel91316]

4. Apparently to at least one DUer. Although I have long since had to accept

that, as a single woman, I have no value in American society, and now that I am over 50 it's even less than zero.

[ShortnFiery]

7. I know. Even a 60 year old has a few good years left. DEATH during WAR is "a tragedy."

[nradisic]

8. more like...

Death in war is inevitable; War is a tragedy.

[ShortnFiery]

11. War is Terrorism. nt

[Hardrada]

15. I'm 64 and I believe I have a lot of good years left,

This was a very sad thing and certainly not inevitable if we had a sane foreign policy.

[RebelOne]

19. He had more than a few good years left.

He had at least 20 more years of living to do. Hell, I am 70 and don't plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon.

[Alameda]

13. Have you ever looked at life insurance policies?

The older you get the less you can be insured for....

[bluedigger]

9. It is regrettable that we must send

60 Year old reservists to Iraq. I am grateful to Major Hutchison for his honorable service to his country.

[proteus_lives]

10. Jesus, he's only three years younger then my dad.

And my dad is a Vietnam vet! I gotta call my dad tomorrow. Sad news.

Thank you for your service, Maj. Hutchison. Godspeed.

[saigon68]

20. 63 and plan to be around for a while

He probably volunteered to go.

There are lots of dis-qualifiers for combat if you are that old

That being said about his patriotism however---

It's an immoral and unnecessary war

I thank him for his service.

I condemn the ass hats Gates and the generals (who think they are Patton)

Who keep this cluster fuck going

P. S. thanks Chuck Scummer and Joementum Limpmann for funding this monstrosity to the tune of trillions of $$$$$$$$$$

[proteus_lives]

22. Probably because of his wife.

I heard on the news that his wife died a few years ago. Older people really don't do well when a long-term spouse dies. (My dad gets weird when my mom visits relatives for the week.)

Probably when to the place where he could help, felt needed and could be part of a group. Sad.

They want be like Patton? Then they should be leading patrols in dangerous areas every day.

The ones who kick it off are rarely the ones who pay in the end.

[saigon68]

23. Kick it off like Cheney

Mr 5 deferments in his "Hidey Hole"

[saigon68]

24. Dupe

[Ohio Joe]

12. RIP - nt

[Blue_Tires]

14. 60-year-old is oldest Army soldier killed in Iraq (Vietnam vet)

Source: AP via Yahoo

PHOENIX – A 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has become the oldest Army soldier to die in that conflict, the military said Thursday.

Maj. Steven Hutchison, of Scottsdale, Ariz., served in Vietnam and wanted to re-enlist immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks, but that his wife was against it, his brother said.

Richard Hutchison told The Associated Press on Thursday that when she died, "a part of him died" so he signed up in July 2007.

"He was very devoted to the service and to his country," Richard Hutchison said.

He described him as a great big brother and friend. "I didn't want him to go," he said through tears, adding that he loved his brother "so much."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090514/ap_on_re_us/us_olde...

[No Elephants]

17. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your service all these years, Major. RIP.

[EFerrari]

18. That's an obscenity. He should have been home with his family.

[Betty]

21. what is a 60 year old doing serving in combat???

I have a feeling this is still going to be going on by the end of Obama's first term, easily. And we'll be using older and older soldiers because we're running out of warm bodies.

[Tiggeroshii]

25. He wnatd to.

[JayMusgrove]

26. Obama should say to Iraq....."we are out in 90 days!....get your act...

together over there!"

And pay us 100 Billion for letting you live free, now figure out how to live free and not kill each other!