Vigo County Historical Society

Terre Haute man played key role in naval battle

Continuing to focus its exhibits on the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Vigo County Historical Society on Aug. 1 opened the third segment of displays, called "On the Battlefield."

This portion of the exhibit includes uniforms, medals, letters, articles, photographs and other military memorabilia which belong to Vigo County men and women who served our country during the critical time.

One Terre Haute man, Lt. Commander Charles H. Hutchins, whose Navy uniform is part of this exhibit, was engaged in one of the most illustrious sea battles of the war.

Charles Hutchins, Eagle Scout, high school football team captain and president of his Wiley senior class went on to Rose-Hulman where he, with classmates Bill Reed, Jack Foulkes and Harry McGurk, designed and built an air-cooled gasoline engine. A graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, Hutchins married the former Ann Hubard, retired as a vice president of Weston Paper Co. in 1978 and passed away in August 1992.

A fascinating story of Lt. Commander Hutchins’ military career is chronicled in the Dec. 13, 1943 issue of "Life" magazine. The article is entitled "U.S.S. Borie’s Last Battle" and is on display along with the entire uniform by Jane Hazledine.

In October 1943, Hutchins was captain of the destroyer, U.S.S. Borie in the Atlantic. During battle on this particular night of high waves and strong winds, the Borie had succeeded in sinking one enemy submarine, when shortly after, contact was made with an unidentified craft. Upon contact, Lt. Hutchins ordered "Flank speed."

After a series of depth charges, the second sub was forced to surface. After firing at the German vessel, the Borie charged ahead, caught up with the ship and prepared to ram it. In the last seconds, high waves lifted the Borie and it came to rest bow over bow atop the German sub. The somewhat shocked men on the Borie then opened fire and, after a series of maneuvers and convolutions on the part of both ships, the Borie’s men were victorious in destroying the enemy sub.

By then, 20-foot waves and contact with the submarine had put the Borie out of commission. The men were forced to abandon ship and the Borie was ultimately torpedoed and sent to the bottom by American forces.

Though fearing court-martial for the loss of his ship, Hutchins was summoned to Washington, D.C. and awarded the Navy Cross for courage, bravery and superior leadership in the destruction of two enemy subs.

This is only one story of courage that comes to mind as one views the exhibit. Other uniforms and memorabilia of servicemen of exceptional bravery make up this meaningful museum tribute to a part of history that we will never forget.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.