Thousands pay their respects to League City soldier who died in Iraq

Houston Chronicle ^ | December 16, 2003 | RUTH RENDON

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Clutching flags and shivering, schoolchildren lined the streets of southeast Houston to somberly watch a hearse and miles of cars wind their way to the cemetery where U.S. Army Spc. Ray Joseph Hutchinson was laid to rest today.

The 20-year-old rifleman, a 2001 graduate of Clear Creek High School, was killed in Iraq last week while returning to his base from a security patrol. His Humvee drove over a handmade explosive device that was detonated by remote control in Mosul. Two other soldiers in the same vehicle were critically wounded.

Today about 700 people turned out for his funeral at Sagemont Church, including former classmates, League City leaders, uniformed soldiers from all branches of the military and U.S. Rep Tom DeLay.

A flag topped his silver casket, flanked by red, white and blue flowers and a framed photograph of the youthful soldier. A pair of black Army boots sat on a pedestal, along with a rifle and a helmet.

Brigadier General Tom Bostic spoke and was on hand for the presentation of a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry badge to Hutchinson's family.

"He did a great job, a wonderful job in this final function," Bostic said. "We want to let him know what a great job he did."

A slideshow of Hutchinson's life in the military was shown, along with a slide show of his personal life, his baby pictures, his first tooth.

Hutchinson grew up in League City, just south of Houston. At Clear Creek High School, he was an active student, playing the saxophone in the band and serving as the photographer of the school's newspaper.

After graduating, he attended Texas State University in San Marcos for a year before quitting to enlist in the Army in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

He took airborne training to learn to be a parachute trooper as well as a rifleman. He was transferred to 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell just two weeks before he was shipped to Iraq at the start of the war, his family said.

Before leaving for Iraq, he stopped by at his old high school in uniform to say goodbye to his teachers.

In his last telephone conversation with his parents, two days before his death, he said he wanted to come to Houston for his grandmother's heart surgery but did not want to bump another soldier already scheduled to leave Iraq.

As today's funeral procession rolled toward Forest Lawn Cemetery on Almeda Genoa, small flags waved from the car windows and thousands of Houston residents gathered along the streets to pay their own respects. Neighborhoods along the way erected flags in the medians.

Hutchinson was supposed to be home for Christmas, but for his family and friends -- and for many who never knew him -- it was a heartwrenching homecoming.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hutchison, 20, was an Army rifleman.

Despite fear, soldier believed***He then took airborne training to learn to be a parachute trooper as well as a rifleman. He was transferred to 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, just two weeks before he was shipped to Iraq at the start of the war, his family said.

"He felt he was ready and trained to do what he could. He supported our president," Deborah Hutchinson said.

Although only a green private, he received commendation medals for helping take control of two key bridges in the early stages of the war in Najaf, his father said.

"He said he was only doing his job," Michael Hutchinson said. "But we got a copy of the medal and it said that during a time of confusion he had taken charge of the young men around him."

Ray Hutchinson also was with the group of soldiers who surrounded the home where Saddam Hussein's two sons were killed, his father said.

"He couldn't tell us everything. He said he'd have a lot more to say when he got home."

He added that his son never wanted to kill anybody: "As corny as it sounds, he knew freedom wasn't free."……………. "The bottom line is that he felt it was his duty to give back to his country, but God called him home," said his father.***

[IncPen]

ping

[cynicom]

Words are of little value. Bless his family.

[Lion in Winter]

Salute to a fine young man and a TRUE American HERO.

May God Bless his family and grant them peace in knowing that their beloved son was a HERO to millions of free people everywhere.

[anymouse]

Taps ping for a Houston hometown hero, who served his country well.

[Ranger]

A wonderful man. I truely feel for his family and wish to let them know that there are many in this country that share their pain and wish to extend our most heartfelt condolensces.

We've also got to get these brave soldiers some armored humvees.

[BushisTheMan]

God bless this heroic young man and his family. What sacrifice they have made for freedom and for the protection of many of us in the United States. Thank you brave soldier.

[Norse]

Or put sandbags on the floors in the humvees. They did this in Vietnam...how much space is under a seat? I've never actually seen one

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

..his son never wanted to kill anybody..."The bottom line is that he felt it was his duty to give back to his country, but God called
him home," said his father.***
Thank you, Spc.Ray Joseph Hutchinson. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~