Curtis A. "Mac" McCutcheon

3220 West Channel Circle, (Jonathan's Landing), Jupiter FL. 33477 Tel# 561-744-5789

Email: budwin@pb.quik.com

After graduating from the advanced ASTP program at Iowa in October 1944, 1 was part of the group that was sent back to Camp Crowder, MO. for more radio repair training. Soon the Battle of the Bulge had many of us sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia for about 9 weeks of advanced infantry training with all sorts of live ammunition! On March 15, 1945 1 was on my way to Europe as a basic rifleman in the infantry. By April 15, 1945 we had reached Kassel, Germany where we were to replace a tired GI on the front line. About 11 PM that evening our First Sergeant called out about 10 names (mine included) to report to the motor pool with all our belongings. We traveled all night long in a 6x6 during which time we figured out we all had Signal Corps training and were being sent back to Corps Headquarters to fill needs for specialists. I spent the rest of the war in the 94th Signal Battalion repairing radios throughout Germany, France and Belgium. Was discharged from Fort Dix, N.J. on April 2, 1946.

After discharge, I attempted to get back into college and finish my degree. All colleges were full of returning GI's and I had to wait one fall year before I was finally accepted at Columbia University. I completed a portion of my Junior year at Columbia, then transferred to Cornell University where I completed the required number of credits to receive a BEE in June 1949.

1 immediately went to work for Sun Pipe Line Co., a division of Sun Oil Company , in Philadelphia, PA. My work was originally in the electrolysis field where we studied underground corrosion of buried metal structures and designed electrical systems to mitigate corrosion through impressed currents (cathodic protection).

Also in the fall of 1949 1 married my wife Winnie and we have two children; a girl and a boy. Our daughter Ellie graduated from Florida State University; married a Vermont boy who also graduated from FSU and they are now in the floor covering business in Tallahassee, FL. Our son Curt graduated from Ohio State University and owns his own business near Mount Holly, NJ. Ellie has two sons; one of which is now in FSU; the other in high school.

In about 1952, 1 accidently ran into Irv Brown at Sun Oil Co's Physical Research Lab in Newtown Square, PA. He subsequently left Sun OR Co. for RCA and I lost track of him.

As time went on I became involved in all aspects of Pipe Line engineering. These included things like automation, remote supervisory control, microwave communications, hydraulics, power optimization, turbine meters, new pipeline design and eventually computer control of entire line segments. In 1964 1 was appointed Chief Engineer and in 1968 Vice President and General Manager, Products Lines Department.

In 1980 1 left the Pipe Line to accept a position in Sun Oil Co's Research and Development Department to work on specialty projects; primarily advanced computer applications to new refining and manufacturing processes. I accepted an early retirement package on March 1, 1983.

We now live permanently in Jupiter, FL. If any ASTP'ers who read this website come to Florida on vacation, or to live here, we invite you to visit and share memories of our good times in Iowa City.