 |
MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sept 1991
LOUIS JACOB GUTTING
No. 600442 * Ex Class of 1946
Died 13 December 1988 in San Antonio, TX, aged 66 years. Interment:
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX. |
BORN 2 SEPTEMBER 1922 in Coshocton, Ohio, Louis
Jacob (Jake) Gutting wanted to be a soldier from the moment he
could say the word. Jake knew everyone in that small town in
eastern Ohio, and the town thought of him as its own. His innate
ability to get to know people remained a basic part of his character
throughout his life and endeared him to everyone. A natural leader
from childhood, Jack was a fine athlete, co-captain of his high
school basketball team and class president. Although at an age
well below the regulation, Jake got himself into the local National
Guard unit. He soon became a sergeant and was known throughout
the outfit as "the kid." Still following his main goal
in life, Jake was able to get an appointment to West Point and
entered the Academy in July 1943 with the Class of 1946.
Jake's joy at getting into West Point began to falter when academics
started plebe year. He spent Plebe Christmas taking turnout exams,
which he passed. Harry Buckley, a fellow plebe in F-1 Company
recalls that despite his academic difficulties, Jake was always
upbeat, cheering and consoling his suffering plebe classmates.
Yearling year for Jake was a different story. Turned out in calculus
and Portuguese, he was eventually "found" in calculus.
Undaunted, he proceeded to OCS at Fort Benning, Georgia and was
commissioned before the Class of 1946 graduated.
One of Jake's first assignments was to Korea, where he served
with XXIV Corps. It was there that he met and married Kathleen
Kieffer. Their marriage, which was the first ever in Korea between
an American officer and American dependent, took place on 15
March 1947. Returning to the States, Jake and Kathleen traveled
to Fort Benning, where Jake received his Regular Army commission
in Armor. In 1949, he was reunited briefly with one of his plebe
roommates, Bill Kaliff, when he served as best man at Bill's
wedding in Columbus, Georgia.
After attending the Armor Advanced Officers Course, Jake served
with several Armor units in Germany and in 1954 was assigned
as an advisor to a National Guard unit in south Texas. In 1957,
he served a tour with the Military Assistance Advisory Group
in Iran. His next assignment was as aide de camp to the Commanding
General, Fifth Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. The Buckleys
visited Jake, Kathleen and their four children at Fort Sheridan,
and Harry recalls that everyone on post seemed to know and admire
Jake. It was during this tour that he completed the requirements
for his B.A. in business administration from Roosevelt University
in Chicago.
Attendance at the Command and General Staff College (C&GSC)
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas was followed by a second tour in
Germany, where Jake was assigned to Headquarters, United States
Army Europe, in the Personnel and Administration Division. A
fellow staff officer, Colonel Pierce B. Irby, Jr., U.S. Army
Retired, recalls that Jake was thoroughly professional, dedicated,
cooperative and dependable. When Jake was selected to command
the 2nd Battalion, 68th Armor, the thing that stands out in Pierce's
mind was Jake's unique ability to handle the tactical command
and control of a tank battalion in the field. Both the assistant
division commander (BG Julian Ewell) and the commanding general
(MG Bud Russ) said, "No question-Jake can operate and command
a tank battalion in the field." Jake was "gung ho,"
a doer who got the job done in fine fashion.
Jake's next assignment was as an instructor at C&GSC at Fort
Leavenworth until 1969, when he and Kathleen returned to the
site of their wedding. Jake became commander of the U.S. Army
Garrison (Yongson Post), Seoul. In an extremely difficult position,
Jake did an outstanding job and finished his tour in Korea as
a staff officer at Headquarters, Eighth Army. In 1970, the Guttings
moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Jake was Senior Army Advisor to
the Ohio National Guard. His military career ended in 1975 in
San Antonio, Texas when he retired as a colonel after serving
in Armor Readiness Region VII at Fort Sam Houston.
Not one to "really retire," Jake took up real estate,
participated in community activities and enjoyed oil painting
in his free time. Jake, an avid golfer, was very active in the
Windcrest Golf Club in suburban San Antonio. He was a member
for 15 years and served on the board of directors, course committee
and as tournament chairperson.
On 13 December 1988, Louis Jacob Gutting died in San Antonio
from complications associated with cancer. He is survived by
his wife, Kathleen, four sons: Gregory, Kevin, Brian and Scott,
and a daughter, Ronalee Ann.
At Jake's funeral, a friend, Colonel B.J. "Bob" Pinkerton,
U.S. Army Retired, delivered the eulogy. Since golf was such
a part of Jake's life, it was fitting that it was part of the
eulogy: " . . . Your approach to golf, like your approach
to life, was a total effort, with enthusiasm, and without compromise....
Jake, you played the game as it was meant to be played, with
dedication and for the pleasure of accepting the challenge .
. ."
When his friends and comrades in arms wrote about Jake, the essence
of the man was evident. Joy, energy, ebullience, enthusiasm,
dedication and pride in the U.S. Army-these qualities were repeated
over and over by all who knew him.
Other parts of Bob Pinkerton's eulogy sum up what everyone felt
who knew Jake: "Your love for your family was only equaled
by your devotion to God.... Your love for your country and the
Army was reflected in your dedicated and unswerving service of
more than 34 years. The motto 'Duty, Honor, Country' was reflected
in your everyday philosophy .... Jake, you were a faithful and
devoted husband, a loving and generous father, a dedicated soldier
and patriot, a true sportsman, and a dear friend to
Many - and always a gracious, gentleman.... We will miss you,
Jake - a lot.
Your old friends and comrades in arms."
The Class of'1946 can only add to this: "Well Done, Jake.
Be Thou at Peace!"
'46 Memorial Project and his wife, Kathleen
|