Keith B. McCutcheon

Keith Barr McCutcheon
Keith Barr McCutcheon
	Director of Aviation; 1st Marine Brigade; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing; III Marine Amphibious Force
Battles/wars	World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (3); Silver Star (Army); Legion of Merit with Combat "V" (3); Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal (10)

Keith Barr McCutcheon (August 10, 1915 – July 13, 1971) was a highly decorated

aviator seeing combat in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and ten Air Medals

.

Early years

Keith McCutcheon was born on August 10, 1915, in

U.S. Army Reserve

commission to accept appointment as a Marine Corps second lieutenant on July 1, 1937.

Marine Corps career

McCutcheon's first assignment upon completion of

Naval aviator, and subsequently served with a Marine Observation Squadron aboard the aircraft carriers USS Ranger, USS Wasp, and USS Yorktown. He later completed aeronautical engineering courses at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his master's degree

in 1944.

World War II

In September 1944, as a lieutenant colonel, he departed for the

Philippine Islands. Additionally, he saw duty as operations officer of Marine Aircraft Groups, Dagupan on Luzon and, later, Zamboanga, on Mindanao. During the period from November 1, 1944, to May 26, 1945, he earned the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V", the Distinguished Flying Cross, and six Air Medals in the Solomons, New Guinea

, and Philippine Islands area.

In November 1945, he returned to the United States to serve as an instructor in the Aviation Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. From October 1946 until December 1949, he was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics,

Guided Missiles (then Pilotless Aircraft) Division of the Design and Engineering Group, and was branch chief at various times of the Liaison, Experimental Projects, and Target Drone branches. He also performed additional duty in 1947 as senior Marine Corps aide to the White House

.

1950s

Marine Helicopter Squadron One

McCutcheon was transferred to Norfolk in January 1950 and completed the course at the

Armed Forces Staff College in June 1950. He was then ordered to Quantico for duty as commanding officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-One), the Corps' only helicopter squadron at that time. During the next 18 months, HMX-One served as a focal point for the expansion of the Marine Corps Helicopter program. He was promoted to colonel

in June 1951.

Korean War

In December 1951, McCutcheon took command of

Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 in Korea. He earned his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and his seventh through tenth Air Medals in this capacity. In October 1952, he reported to Headquarters, United States European Command, in Frankfurt, West Germany

, where he served successively as operations officer, assistant chief, and later chief, Operations Branch, J-3 Division until May 1954.

McCutcheon assumed duties in June 1954 as chief, Air Section, Marine Corps Equipment Board, Quantico. In August 1957, he reported as commanding officer, MAG-26, at New River, North Carolina. He commanded the helicopter group until June 1959, when he was detached to enter the National War College in Washington.

1960s

Following graduation, he was assigned to

Director of Aviation in September 1961. In March 1962, he was promoted to brigadier general and assumed command of the Hawaii-based 1st Marine Brigade

. Remaining in Hawaii, he joined the staff of the commander in chief, Pacific, in January 1963 as assistant chief of staff for operations. For exceptionally meritorious service in this capacity from 1963 to 1965, he was awarded his third Legion of Merit.

Vietnam War

Ordered to South Vietnam in June 1965, McCutcheon earned his first Distinguished Service Medal for service as commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and as deputy commander, III Marine Amphibious Force. He was also awarded the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Honor Medal (First Class). In January 1966, he was promoted to major general while serving in South Vietnam.

Upon his return to the United States in June 1966, McCutcheon served almost four years as deputy chief of staff (air), at Headquarters Marine Corps, and earned a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal.

1970s

Nominated for promotion to

Nixon on February 5, 1970, and confirmed by the Senate

on February 24, 1970. After his promotion to that rank on February 26, 1970, he returned to South Vietnam for duty as commanding general, III Marine Amphibious Force. For exceptionally meritorious service in this assignment through January 1971, he was awarded his third Distinguished Service Medal. At the time of his retirement, he was special assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps.

Promotion to general and retirement

McCutcheon was nominated for promotion to general and appointed assistant commandant of the Marine Corps in 1970 by President Nixon, although he was unable to assume the post because of ill health. However, because of his distinguished career as a Marine, Congress passed special legislation which provided he be placed on the retired list with the rank of general.

On July 1, 1971, McCutcheon received his promotion and was placed on the retired list. He died of cancer on July 13, 1971, at the

National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery

.

Decorations

A complete list of his decorations and medals include:

Naval Aviator Badge
1st Row	award stars
2nd Row	Silver Star	valor device	Distinguished Flying Cross	Air Medal w/ 9 award stars
3rd Row	service stars	American Defense Service Medal w/ Base clasp	American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 service stars
4th Row	World War II Victory Medal	Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ Europe clasp	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star	Korean Service Medal w/ 3 service stars
5th Row	Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 service stars	Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm	Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd class	Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
6th Row	Korean Presidential Unit Citation	Philippine Liberation Medal w/ 1 service star	United Nations Korea Medal	Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

General Keith B. McCutcheon, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
Keith B. McCutcheon, General, United States Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery profile.
History of Marine Corps Aviation, AcePilots.com.

Military offices
Preceded by Albert F. Binney	Director of Aviation September 11, 1961 - February 17, 1962 First term	Succeeded by Marion E. Carl
Preceded by Paul J. Fontana	Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing May 24, 1965 - May 16, 1966	Succeeded by Louis Robertshaw
Preceded by Louis Robertshaw	Deputy Chief of Staff (Air) June 15, 1966 - February 18, 1970 Second term	Succeeded by Homer S. Hill