12/10/2003 Archived Entry: "CPL Ray J. Hutchinson, KIA 07.Dec.03"

There isn't much to say that's not already been said, but I'll say it all again anyway.

On Sunday 7.Dec.03, at approximately 0300 CST, my brother was killed in action. He was serving with the 101st Airborne in Mosul, Iraq, and the HMMWV he was driving rolled over a radio-detonated improvised explosive device. The IED consisted of a shaped charge surrounded by pieces of shrapnel, and it was detonated by remote when it was under the driver's quadrant of the vehicle. The blast shredded the HMMWV, instantly killed my brother, and critically injured the two other soldiers in the vehicle.

The other two soldiers were medivac'd to safety and, as far as I know, are alive. My brother, though, died when the device went off.

After graduating from AIT with the Soldier of the Cycle award, distinguished himself at Najaf by earning the Army Commendation award. We've learned from talking to his commanding officer that he was being fast-tracked for promotion and would have made E-4 at the end of his deployment in Mar.04. That promotion has been granted postumously, along with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions in the campaign.

The Galveston Daily News did a very moving piece about my brother, which anyone interested can read here. Also, the Associated Press has another very good article here.

My brother was an incredible person. He was kind, gentle, honorable, and strong. He would want to be remembered as a soldier, an infantryman, who loved his country and did his duty to the very end of his life.

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