U.S. Army Major Steven Hutchinson was a 60-year-old career soldier who died in Iraq on May 10, 2009. He was killed when a homemade bomb went off near his vehicle in Al Farr, the oldest soldier to die in Iraq.CNN: Soldier's fighting spirit never grew old (May 15, 2009) Fox News: Vietnam Vet From Arizona Is Oldest Soldier to Die in Iraq at Age 60 (May 15, 2009)
A Career in the Military
After retiring to teach college in 1988, Hutchinson wanted to re-enlist after 9-11, but his wife was against it. Later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and died in January 2006. Hutchinson decided to get himself back into shape and then return to active duty, which he did in July 2007.Fox News: Vietnam Vet From Arizona Is Oldest Soldier to Die in Iraq at Age 60 (May 15, 2009)
He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and then went to Iraq, where he was training Iraqi forces.CNN: Soldier's fighting spirit never grew old (May 15, 2009)