Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, N.C.

Cpl Dutcher was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Sept. 15, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Cpl Dutcher graduated from Asheville High School in 2007 where he was a member of the marching band and a member of the Marine Corps JROTC, which was one of the reasons he chose to join the Marines. He joined the Marines after graduation.

Cpl Dutcher deployed to Afghanistan for the second time in April and served as an infantryman. He was scheduled to come home in three weeks.

He had planned to ride his motorcycle across the country from California to North Carolina, then he planned to go to college. He wanted to be a history teacher.

Greg Townsend, family friend and Principal of Asheville High School, said, "He was such a natural leader. It's sad to see him go."

Mother, Teresa Dutcher, described Michael as having a good outlook on life. "He was loving and caring. He was an awesome dude."

Cpl Dutcher's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Sea Service Deployment with three Bronze Stars
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal ISAF-Afghanistan

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher was killed in action on 9/15/11.