Army Maj. Hutchison was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He died in Basra of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Steve joined the Army in 1966 and served two one-year tours in the steamy jungles of Viet Nam. He was a proud member of the famed 101st Airborne Division and won a Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medal. Over the 22 years he served, he was a platoon leader in Germany and a commander of a basic training company at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Along the way, Steve earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Delaware. In 1988, he retired from the Army and became an assistant professor of military science at Claremont College in California. He was also a researcher for a health care company in Scottsdale, Arizona. After the attacks of September 11, Steve wanted to return to the military but his wife, Kandy, persuaded him not to. But three years ago Kandy died of breast cancer and Steve returned to the military at the age of 57 through a military retiree recall program that allows older, experienced warriors to return to action. He was first sent to Afghanistan where he completed a one year tour of duty and then was sent to Iraq in October where he trained the Iraqi army and police units. But later his mission was changed and he found himself defending Iraq's southern borders. Steve was a great friend, close to his family and devoted to this country. When he died, he became the oldest U.S. casualty of the war in Iraq.∼His mother and step-father were Margaret & Frank Loving and his wife was Harriet.

The U.S. Obituary Collection indicates that Steven was a resident of Scottsdale, AZ. His obituary in the May 17, 2009 Arizona Republic (page B8), explains that Major Hutchinson was killed when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on active duty in Iraq. He was a Vietnam Veteran who had served over 20 years including service in Vietnam. It is unknown if he received any awards other than his Purple Heart Medal.

While he was stationed near Basra, Iraq, Maj. Hutchinson adopted a scrawny yellow 1-month-old stray puppy whom he named "Laia." The two quickly became inseparable.