World War II Honoree

Carl Rueben Dutton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Streator, Michigan

Honored By

Randy Dutton

Relationship

Grandson

SUPERVISOR OF BUILDING WELDON SPRINGS ORDNANCE WORKS, 1940-1942, WHICH WAS TO BE THE LARGEST TNT PLANT IN THE U.S., AND SIMULTANEOUSLY COMMANDING MISSOURI ORDNANCE WORKS AND SUPERVISING CONSTRUCTION OF THE KENTUCKY ORDNANCE WORKS (1942). PRESIDENT OF ARMY ORDNANCE BOARD 1942-1943; ASSIGNED ASSISTANT ORDNANCE OFFICER CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER 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. WAS THE ORIGINAL SELECTEE TO HEAD THE MANHATTAN PROJECT BUT WITH A 6-MONTH DELAY IN THE ARMY'S DECISION ON GOING FORWARD, HE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED OTHER DUTIES. HE ALSO WAS THE MOST DECORATED AMERICAN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.