Colonel Melvin H. SAUTTER, USMC (Ret), Golden Eagle Emeritus
 

Gentlemen,
 
It is my sad duty to inform you that on Friday, 6 September 2024, Golden Eagle Emeritus Colonel Melvin H. “Mel” SAUTTER, USMC (Ret), made his Last Take Off in Virginia Beach, VA, with his wife Jane by his side. Mel had been battling Alzheimer’s for several years.
 
Mel was born on 8 April 1929 in Bowling Green, Ohio. He lived on a farm just outside of town, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the countryside. He was an athlete in high school, primarily playing football, but also track, setting a pole vault record that stood for 20 years. After graduation he attended Columbia College in NY, earning a football scholarship, and working as a truck driver and short order cook to work his way through school. In his junior year he faced a potential draft for the Korean War, but his football coach (perhaps selfishly) convinced Mel to finish college by joining the Platoon Leader Class for the USMC. Once exposed to the U.S. Marine Corps, Mel abandoned his future as an architect and chose the Marine Corps for his career. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on graduation 2 July 1952.
 
After commissioning, Mel reported to Quantico, VA, for The Basic School from July 1952 to January 1953, and on completion reported to Pensacola, Florida, to begin his flight training. Finishing in Kingsville, TX, he earned his Wings of Gold on 5 May 1954. While in training, he flew the SNJ-5 Texan, SNB-5 Expeditor, F6F Hellcat, TV-2 Shooting Star, and the F9F-2 Panther. In July 1954 he reported to his first operational squadron, VMF-312 Checkerboards, in Cherry Point, NC, flying the F9F-4 Panther, the FJ-2 Fury, TV-2 Shooting Star, and the SNB-5 Expeditor.
 
During that first squadron tour, he also married the love of his life, Jane, in July 1955, beginning a marriage that would see over 69 years of adventure and happiness.
 
In November of that year, he reported to VMO-2 as the Detachment Officer in Charge in Camp Fuji, Japan, flying the OE-1 Bird Dog and the HTL-5 Sioux helicopter. In May 1956 he reported to VMF-235 in Atsugi, Japan, flying the FJ-2 and FJ-4 Fury. A relatively short tour, he returned to Quantico in February 1957 to attend seven months of Communications Electronics School, but still managed to fly in the T-34B, the OE-1, and the SNB-5.
 
Following school, Mel traveled cross country to El Toro, CA, in October 1957, reporting to Marine Wing Support Group 37 serving as the Communications Electronics Officer. Once again, he remained in the air, flying the SNB-5, T-28B, FJ-4, TV-2, and F9F-8T Cougar. In October 1959 he reported to VMF-451, in El Toro, as the Avionics Officer, flying the F8U-2 Crusader. While there, he participated in the operational evaluation of the HAWK missile system at the White Sands Proving Grounds, NM, with VMF-451 aircraft flying numerous flight profiles to test HAWK system acquisition and tracking capabilities. That tour was followed by another cross country move to Quantico in September 1960 to attend Amphibious Warfare School where true to form, he flew the SNB-5 and T-28B. His follow-on tour in July 1961 took him to VMF-251 in Beaufort, SC, serving as Squadron Maintenance Officer, flying the F8U-1E. The squadron was also assigned to CAG-10 aboard CVA-38, USS Shangri-La. In March 1962 he reported as Executive Officer for VMF-333, still in Beaufort, flying the F8U-2 (re-designated F-8C). During his tour, he earned the honorary title of “Top Gun” of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing for the highest recorded F-8 air-to-air gunnery scores at 20 and 30 thousand feet during a competitive event. When the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted in late 1962, Mel led the first F-8 division to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in November 1962. While there he flew 24 missions providing offshore high and low CAP missions to support egressing USN/USMC electronic counter measures and photo reconnaissance overflights and fighter escort for USAF EB-47 ELINT off-shore flights until that crisis terminated in December 1962. Mel next reported to Task Force 79 in Okinawa, Japan, in July 1963 as the Communications Electronics Officer, and while there flew the O-1B Bird Dog, TC-45J (SNB-5 re-designated), and the TF-9J.
 
Returning stateside in August 1964, Mel reported to Marine Air Control Squadron One, in Yuma, AZ, as the Operations Officer, flying the TC-45J, T-33B Shooting Star, F-8C, and the F-8E. In August 1965 he reported to VMF(AW)-232, based in Kaneohe, HI, and deploying to Iwakuni, Japan, and Da Nang, RVN, flying the F-8D and F-8E. To support upcoming combat in VN, the squadron transitioned to the F-8E since it had hard points for MER/TER ordnance configurations. He took command of the Red Devils in March 1967 while in Da Nang, leading the squadron to completion of combat ops and TRANSPAC home to CONUS (MCAS El Toro) in September 1967. In August 1967 he was recognized by Chance Vought Aircraft as the first (of two) Marine Aviators to log over 2,000 hours in the F-8. While in combat, the Red Devils flew 5,785 sorties and expended 6,271 tons of ordnance. Mel had 360 combat missions.
 
Mel next reported to HQ Fleet Marine Forces Pacific in Camp Smith, HI, in October 1967, flying the T-1A Seastar, T-28B, and the UC-45J. He served as the Air Operations Officer and developed the SOP for TRANSPAC of USMC and USN fixed wing aircraft, supporting multiple deployment/redeployment of squadrons and was recognized by CINCPACFLT with a Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts. In September 1970 it was back to CONUS, reporting to the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment, Dallas, TX, as Executive Officer, flying the F-8C, F-8H, F-8K, and the T-33B. August 1971 had Mel reporting to USAF Air War College in Montgomery, AL, as a student — and for the first time, not flying! That tour was followed by F-4 transition training with VMFA-312 in Cherry Pt, NC, in August 1972 where he flew the TA-4F Skyhawk, TA-4J, F-4B Phantom II and F-4J. In December 1972, Mel was assigned to HQ, First Marine Aircraft Wing, Iwakuni, Japan, as G3 Operations Officer, and flew the TA-4J. While there, he served as an escort of Operation Homecoming for returning POWs, escorting LtCol Miller, USMC, from Clark AFB to Camp Pendleton, CA, over ten days.
 
Mel’s next assignment was to HQ USMC, Arlington, VA, in January 1974 where he served as Director, Aviation Logistics and as Executive Assistant to Requirements and Programs. His last operational assignment began in September 1978 as Commanding Officer, MCAS Kaneohe, HI, where he once again got back in the air flying the HH-46A Sea Knight. In almost 3 years in command, he supported 42 TRANSPAC evolutions involving over 700 USMC/USN aircraft without incident. Mel considered this tour as most rewarding for the positive impact made on the lives of Marines and their families and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his efforts. Mel returned to HQ USMC Arlington, VA, in August 1981 and retired in September 1981.
 
In his close to 30-year career in the Marine Corps, Mel accumulated 4,620 flight hours in multiple types of aircraft, had 73 carrier arrested landings, flew 360 combat missions in a one year tour in Vietnam in the F-8E, and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star with Combat “V,” a single mission Air Medal, and 18 Strike Flight Air Medals for his time in combat. Remarkably, except for his tour at the USAF Air War college and his Pentagon tour, he flew in every billet throughout his 30-year career. Without question, Mel loved to fly and led his troops from the front. He also understood the meaning of orders, completing six unaccompanied overseas tours.
 
After retirement from the Marine Corps Mel joined the company run by H. Ross Perot, Electronic Data Systems, for an 11-year career there, living in Kansas, Alabama, and Northern Virginia, prior to retiring to Virginia Beach. He remained active with the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA), served as the President of the Norfolk, VA, MCAA chapter, and was a member of the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation. He also was a very active and involved member of his local church, mentoring at risk youth among other activities. And of course he remained connected with his college friends, organizing golf and many other social activities. Mel had a zest for life that combined with a great sense of humor made him the center of attention in most social gatherings.
 
Mel is survived by his wife Jane, whom he noted as his best friend and companion, his daughter Kimberlee, sons Scott (Sarah) and Bruce (Katharyn), four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. There will be a service at his local church and interment at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, with those details being provided in a special notice when known.
 
He will be missed.
 
In sadness,
Marty Chanik
Pilot