Col. Carl Dutton Collection

Carl Rueben Dutton was born on 11 November 1901 in Streator, Illinois, the fifth of nine children of George Adelbert Dutton and Inez Rosella (Smith) Dutton.  During childhood he developed a strong sense of responsibility as he helped with farm chores, and, at the age of ten, he became self supporting by taking care of a neighbor's farm.  Later he was able to put himself through the first two years at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC), now Michigan State University, by working in the MAC clinic.

Carl learned of West Point from college classmates.  Fortunately, the head of the MAC clinic was able to arrange an interview for him with the state governor who, in turn, contacted Michigan Senator Truman H. Newberry.  After his interview with the senator, Carl received his appointment to the Academy.  At the beginning of his first class year he was advanced to cadet captain of F Company and chosen to be "King of the Beasts" for the incoming Class of 1928.

On Graduation day Carl married Vera Belle Allen.  His first duty station was Fort Hancock, New Jersey, but by 28 October 1925 Carl and Vera were on their way to the Philippine Islands (1925-1927), where their first son, Richard Allen Dutton was born on 31 January 1927 on Corregidor Island. Their second son, Robert Harding Dutton, was born on 15 August 1928 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland where Carl was detailed to the Ordnance Corps.  Selected to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1929-1930), he completed the Ordinance Engineer Post Grad Course and was appointed an instructor at West Point (1930-1935).  During that period he transferred to the Ordnance Corps.

After completing the Advanced Ordnance Course at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey (1935) and Aberdeen Proving Ground (1936), he was selected to attend the University of Michigan (1936-1939) where he earned a master of science degree in chemistry.  He had nearly completed the Ph.D. requirements when he was reassigned to Picatinny Arsenal (Assistant Chief, Technical Division, 1939-40).  He then received orders to supervise the building of the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works (WSOW) in Missouri (Commanding Officer, 1940-1942) while simultaneously commanding the Missouri Ordnance Works and supervising the construction of the Kentucky Ordnance Works (1942).  The WSOW became the largest TNT manufacturing facility in the country at that time, with over 30,000 workmen employed at the peak of construction.  By 1942 WSOW was producing approximately one million pounds of explosives per day, a fact which contributed markedly to the outcome of the war.
Following service as president of the Ordnance Board (1942-1943), Carl was assigned to the China-Burma-India Theater (Assistant CBI Theater Ordnance Officer, 1943; Commanding Officer, American Advisory Group to the Chinese Z-Force, 1944; General Staff Corps with troops and Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 of the China Theater, 1944-1946).  Returning to the United States in 1946, he was assigned to the Picatinny Arsenal (Chief, Technical Division, 1946-1951; Deputy Post Commander, 1951-1952).  His last tour of duty was at Aberdeen Proving Ground (Executive Officer, 1952-1953; Chief of Staff and Comptroller, 1952-1954; Deputy Post Commander, 1954). He retired on 30 September 1954.
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