20 Nov 2003 Scott was my big brother. I was lucky enough to have three big brothers. Each one of them was special in his own way. But Scott was always there for me. He was the gentle soul who always showed his caring for people in his quiet way. He took care of me one day when Mom was unavailable, and he took me for a bike ride. He had me ride on the cross bar of his bike, and he specifically warned me not to let my feet get near the spokes. So, what did I do? Yep. Put my heel right in the spokes of the front wheel and down we went. We both ended up with skinned knees, elbows, and hands. Scott never spoke one angry word to me. Instead, he took me home and cleaned me up and dried my tears. When he left for Viet Nam in the fall of 1967, I didn't think much about it, other than he was going off again and I would miss him. After all, the "war" at that time was only considered a conflict. I was a teenager and in high school and had other less serious matters on my mind. Two short months later, Colonel Adams showed up at our door with Dorothy Lee, my mother's best friend. I invited them in and was puzzled as to why they were there together in the late afternoon. My mother knew right away, having raised my three brothers during the Korean War and WW II while my Dad was serving in the Army. My oldest brother, JD, who was then an Air Force KC-135 pilot, escorted Scott's body home. I think that he ultimately became a jet jockey (F-105s) in part due to what had happened to Scott. He was shot down in 1972, but came home in 1973. How lucky we were to have him back. It's been thirty-six years, and I still miss Scott terribly. I wonder what it would have been like to know him as an adult. I have changed so much, but he remains the same big brother to me and I regret missing out on the other aspects of him. I would love to find out more about him from anyone who knew him.

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 03 Dec 1967, 1LT William Scott Cutter, pilot, and PFC William Michael Daley, observer, were conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in Quang Tin Province. While in the target area and operating at about 50 feet and 70 knots, their OH-13S (tail number 63-13677) was hit by automatic weapons fire, crashed, and burned. Both men died in the crash. Just over four years later, on 17 Feb 1972, Air Force Captains James D. Cutter and Kenneth J. Frasier, of the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron at Korat RTAFB, were conducting a SAM suppression mission in southernmost North Vietnam, some 13 miles north of the DMZ near the village of Xom Quan Cat. Their F-105F (tail number 63-8333) was hit by a surface to air missile and although they were able to get about four miles offshore before ejecting both men were captured by the North Vietnamese. Cutter and Frasier were released on 28 March 1973. Major J. D. Cutter, USAF

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