Vet who survived WWII and Korean War freezes to death inside Tenn. home

Stars and Stripes ^ | 2/22/15 | Hardy & Healey

[pabianice]

DUNLAP, Tenn. (Tribune News Service) — After surviving two wars, frigid weather took the life of Bradley Sutter this week. Police found the 85-year-old dead in his rural mobile home with nothing but electric blankets for heat.

With temperatures in the single digits this week, concerned neighbors asked the Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office to check on Sutter, whom neighbors hadn't seen in several days. Deputies found him dead of hypothermia Wednesday afternoon inside his squalid mobile home, which is tucked away in some woods off of state Route 111 near Dunlap.

Deputies found an electric furnace in the home, but it was either broken or not turned on. Sutter's only source of heat came from two electric blankets -- one on top of him, the other underneath. A piece was missing from the bottom of the front door, plugged up with grocery bags.

"It was 16 degrees outside when we arrived," said Sequatchie County Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock. "It didn't feel any different inside."

Officials couldn't immediately confirm Sutter's military history, though the sheriff said he served in World War II and the Korean War. Mickey McCamish, chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Coalition, said coalition members were saddened by the situation and working Friday to help hunt down his military records.

"He survived the wars and then lost out to weather," McCamish said.

[IronJack]

That said, no one should die alone.

Maybe that's the way he wanted it. Alone with his demons ...

[clintonh8r]

Possible but unlikely.

[Cowboy Bob]

Yes, I did the same math...

[sphinx]

However why did he not take care of himself?

Not unusual at his age. Unfortunately.

[YOMO]

There are members in the VFW, American Legion, Amvets who just want to be members and keep up their dues and never attend a meeting nor visit the Post. Their contact is limited to mailing in dues once a year if not a life member. Second as a member of a Post that renders Military Honors we are notified either by a funeral home or the Cemetery we are needed. If the Family doesn't notify us how would we know?

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I am suspicious of the suggestion that he froze to death. This is because he had been dead a week, between two electric blankets. About 650 Americans die of hypothermia every year, so forensic evidence of cause of death is well known.

There is a good chance he just died of “old age”, and later froze.

[Kirkwood]

Why would you say that? Sounds like they checked and got no answer at the door, so they called in the cops.

[virgil283]

If anyone is interested

"An astounding number of American teenagers, both male and female, altered their birth dates in order to serve their country during World War Two. The practice reached its peak in 1943. Over time, nearly 50,000 were detected and sent home. Among the many who eventually managed to enlist, a handful was discovered – court martialed – and then stripped of any valor awards they might have earned. But the great majority – some 200,000 — went unnoticed and served honorably for the duration."

http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/2012/02/veterans-of-underage-military-service/

http://www.oldvums.org/

[topspinr]

Why not wait until his family (if any) or the authorities make known his military records, from whatever legal papers they find at his home.

Why jump to conclusions?

[Bigg Red]

So very sad. May the Lord receive this hero.

I guess he did not have any family

[JDoutrider]

Maybe that's the way he wanted it. Alone with his demons ...

Concur... I know a few like that. It's just the way it is...

[Verginius Rufus]

Horrible. Dunlap is about 25 miles north of Chattanooga on U.S. 127. U.S. 127 runs from Chattanooga to Lansing, Michigan. The story reminds me of one from Michigan a few years ago where an elderly man froze to death in his house after the power company cut off his power. He had tried to pay his bill but there was a small discrepancy between his check and the amount of the bill, so they cut off his power instead of helping him rectify the error.

[Verginius Rufus]

Horrible. Dunlap is about 25 miles north of Chattanooga on U.S. 127. U.S. 127 runs from Chattanooga to Lansing, Michigan. The story reminds me of one from Michigan a few years ago where an elderly man froze to death in his house after the power company cut off his power. He had tried to pay his bill but there was a small discrepancy between his check and the amount of the bill, so they cut off his power instead of helping him rectify the error.