Date of birth:

August 10th, 1915 (East Liverpool/Ohio, United States)

Date of death:

July 13th, 1971 (Bethesda/Maryland, United States)

Buried on:

Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 5. 

Service number:

5631

Nationality:

American

Keith Barr McCutcheon was born August 10th, 1915 at East Liverpool, Ohio. He was educated at East Liverpool Highschool and received his Bachelor of Science degree at Carnegie Institute of Technology. After receiving an honor’s degree at the ROTC school, he left the U.S. Army Reserve to join the U.S. Marine Corps on July 1st, 1937 in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Following basic training, he was posted to the Marine Detachment aboard U.S.S. Yorktown.
After completing flight training in 1940 he was posted to a Marine Observation Squadron in which he served aboard U.S.S. Ranger, U.S.S. Wasp and U.S.S. Yorktown. He was educated further at the U.S. Navy Post Graduate School and Massachusetts Insitute of Technology, earning his Master’s degree in 1944.
In September 1944 he left for the Pacific as Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24 in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, serving on Bougainville, Luzon and Mindanao. Subsequently he served as Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Groups at Dagupan on Luzon and Zamboanga on Mindanao.
November 1945 he returned to the US to become instructor at the Aviation Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. From November 1946 until December 1949 he served in the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department te Washington, D.C. Subsequently he served in the Pilotless Aircraft Division of the Design and Engineering Group and on various experimental projects. In 1947 he became temporary Senior Marine Corps Aide in the White House. January 1950 he was transferred to Norfolk and took up studies at the Armed Forces Staff College until June 1950. Subsequently he was named Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-One). In June 1951 he was promoted to Colonel.
During the Korean War he was in command of Marine Helicopter Squadron 161. In October 1952 he was transferred to Headquarters, United States European Command, in Frankfurt, Germany, serving as Operations Officer, Assistant Chief, and later as Chief, Operations Branch, J-3 Division. June 1954, he continued his career as Chief, Air Section, Marine Corps Equipment Board in Quantico. In August 1957 he became Commanding Officer, MAG-26, New River, North Carolina; afterwards he was trained at the National War College in Washington. On graduation he was posted to Headquarters Marine Corps in July 1960 as Assistant Director of Aviation, becoming its Director in September 1961. Promotion to Brigadeer-general followed in March 1962 and subsequently he was named Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. January 1963 he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations to the Commander in Chief, Pacific.
During the Vietnam War, McCutcheon served as Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and as Deputy Commander, III Marine Amphibious Force.
On his return to the U.S., he was made Deputy Chief of Staff (Air) at Headquarters Marine Corps. Promotion to Lieutenant-general followed in February 1970, returning to Vietnam as Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force.
When he retired in 1971, he was Special Assistant to the Commander Marine Corps. In 1970 he was already recommended for his fourth star as Full General. Due to his illness, he could no longer execute his function of Assistant Commandant, Marine Corps.
July 1971 he received his promotion to General and he retired. Keith Bar McCutcheon died of cancer July 13th 1971. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 5.

Promotions:
July 1st, 1937: Second Lieutenant;
June 1951: Colonel;
March 1962: Brigadier general;
January 1966: Major general;
February 26th , 1970: Lieutenant general (Presidential Order 5 februari 1970, US Senate Order February 24th 1970);
July 1st 1971: General.

Career:
July 1st ,1937: Basic School Marine Corps;
?: Marine Detachment U.S.S. Yorktown;
?: Marine Observation Squadron U.S.S. Ranger;
?: Marine Observation Squadron U.S.S. Wasp;
?: Marine Observation Squadron U.S.S. Yorktown;
?: U.S. Naval Postgraduate School;
? - 1944: Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
september 1944: Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24;
?: Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Groups;
November 1945: Instructor Aviation Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico;
October 1946 - december 1949: Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, in Washington, D.C.;
January 1950 - June 1950: Armed Forces Staff College;
?: Commanding Officer Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-One);
December 1951: Commanding Officer Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161;
October 1952 - May 1954: Headquarters, United States European Command, Frankfurt, Germany;
June 1954: Chief, Air Section, Marine Corps Equipment Board, Quantico;
August 1957 - June 1959: Commanding Officer, MAG-26, New River, North Carolina;
June 1959: National War College, Washington;
July 1960: Assistant Director of Aviation Headquarters Marine Corps;
September 11th,1961 - February 17th,1962: Officer-in-Charge, Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps;
January 1963: Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations Commander in Chief, Pacific;
May 24th, 1965 – May 16th ,1966: Commanding General 1st Marine Aircraft Wing;
June 15th , 1966 - February 18th , 1970: Deputy Chief of Staff (Air), Headquarters Marine Corps;
?: Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force;
January 30th 1971 - March 11th , 1971: Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (function not fulfilled due to illness).

During the Korean War, McCutcheon received a second Legion of Merit and a 7th to 10th Air Medal. For his work between 1963 and 1965, McCutcheon received a third Legion of Merit. For meritorious service, he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, receiving a second DSM for service durring the Vietnam War and a third at the end of his career. He was also authorized to wear the Navy Unit Commendation with 3 Stars, the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, furthermore he was awarded the Navy Occupation Service Medal with "EUROPE" clasp, the National Defence Service Medal, 1 Star, the Korean Service Medal, 3 Stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, 4 Stars, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, the United Nations Korea Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

Awarded on:

1945

Citation:
"For gallantry in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Malabang Field, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, during the period of 12 April 1945 to 17 April 1945. Prior to the landings on Mindanao information was received which indicated a possible change in tactical plans. Lieutenant Colonel McCutcheon volunteered to fly to the Malabang Airfield that had just been reported seized by a small guerrilla force. He arrived at the Airfield five days prior to the landings of American forces. During the ensuing five days, from positions within close range of enemy machine gun and mortar fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, he reported the situation to the landing force afloat, briefed pilots and supervised the direction of air strikes. His accurate information transmitted to the task force commander afloat enabled the formulation of amended plans and resulted in an unopposed landing in the Malabang Area. Lieutenant Colonel McCutcheon's unselfish devotion to duty, disregard for his personal safety, and outstanding performance of hazardous duty in the face of the enemy, contributed greatly to the successes attained and reflect great credit on himself and his organization."

Awarded by the Army.
General Orders No. 69, Headquarters, X Corps.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

Citation:
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan on Luzon and later, Zamboanga on Mindanao, in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the period from 1 November 1944 through 26 May 1945."

Received with "V" for "Valor".

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

Received for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

This award was obtained in the form of an Gold Star to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

This award was obtained in the form of a second Gold Star to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

This award was obtained in the form of a third Gold Star to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

This award was obtained in the form of a fourth Gold Star to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

Marine Aircraft Groups Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

This award was obtained in the form of a silver star, which depicts the fifth golden star to represent the sixth Air Medal and to replace the four previous silver stars, to be placed on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Colonel

Unit:

Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (VMM-161), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps

"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE in Korea during the period from 18 December 1951 through 6 August 1952."

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General (Brigadier)

"for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific, from 1963 to 1965."

Rank:

Lieutenant General

Rank:

Lieutenant General

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with "BASE" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with three campaign stars.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with a campaign star.

• Photo 1: US Government
• - National Personnel Records Center, National Archives National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) VIP list, 2009, January 4th, 2010, National Personnel Records Center , Military Personnel Records, St. Louis
  - U.S. Marine Corps History Division
  - Arlington Cemetery.net
  - Ibiblio.org
  

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