Eugene M. Dutchak – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Eugene M. Dutchak, 77, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served as publisher and media activities director of the Construction Specifications Institute in Washington and Alexandria from 1967 to 1984, died January 28, 1999 at Inova Fairfax Hospital after a heart attack. He lived in Vienna, Virginia.

Colonel Dutchak, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Army in 1941. He served under Gen. George S. Patton Jr. in the 3rd Army’s 10th Armored Division in Europe during World War II.

After the war, he left the Army and in 1948 received a journalism degree from the University of Georgia.

Upon graduation, he received an Army commission through ROTC and returned to active duty. He served in this country, Thailand and Europe, and in 1955 received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Later assignments included work as a public affairs officer in this country and South Korea.

His last assignment, before retiring from active duty in 1967, was as editor-publisher of ARMOR magazine and as secretary-treasurer of the U.S. Armor Association.

Colonel Dutchak’s decorations included two awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

He was a 34-year member of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Vienna. His hobbies included music, photography and travel. He was a history buff.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, the former Shirley Ziegler, of Vienna; a son, Michael, of Oakton; a daughter, Barbara Dutchak of Arlington; and three grandchildren.

DUTCHAK, EUGENE M., LTC, USA (Ret.)

Age 77, of Vienna, VA, on Thursday, January 28, 1999, at Fairfax Hospital, beloved husband of Shirley Dutchak; devoted father of Barbara and Michael Dutchak; father-in-law of Cathy Dutchak; grandfather of Sarah, Alex and Adam. Services will be held at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Road, Vienna, VA on Saturday, January 30, 1999 at 11 a.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, February 5 at 1 p.m. Family and friends will gather at the Administration Building at 12:30 p.m. The family suggests contributions to the American Diabetes Association, 1211 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20036.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard