Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Marvin
Earl
Utter
1911-01-08

–

1998-09-01

Born:

St. Joseph’s

, 

Missouri

Home:

Freehold

, 

New Jersey

Buried: 

Fishers

, 

Indiana

Cemetery:

Oaklawn Memorial Gardens

Growing up in Saint Joseph’s, Missouri, Marvin Utter attended South Park School and Central High School, before entering Platt-Gard Business University in St. Joseph. He then attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, graduating in 1934. Theological studies followed at Colgate Rochester Divinity School, in Rochester, New York, and after graduation he was ordained an American Baptist minister. He was pastoring York Baptist Church in Rochester, New York, when he entered military service in 1940, and began active duty as a U.S. Army chaplain in January 1942. In 1944 he was deployed to the European Theater of Operations for service with the 7th Armored Division, earning a Silver Star in France and a second Silver Star in Belgium. After the war he remained in Germany with the U.S. Army occupation force as a senior chaplain stationed in Berlin, and in 1946 was promoted to major. He then returned to Indiana, where he pastored for several years before pastoring Central Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was past moderator of the Indianapolis Baptist Association, president of the Indiana Baptist Convention, and a member of the general board for the American Baptist Convention.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    7th Armored Division

    Action Date:

    January 20 – 29, 1945
    Headquarters, 7th Armored Division, General Orders No. 36 (February 12, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Marvin E. Utter (ASN: 0-26455), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Headquarters, Combat Command “A”, 7th Armored Division, in action near Vith, Belgium, from 20 to 29 January 1945. Chaplain Utter distinguished himself by evacuation of the wounded under fire, without regard for his own safety. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Utter, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Batallion:

    48th Armored Infantry Battalion

    Division:

    7th Armored Division

    Action Date:

    September 8, 1944
    Headquarters, 7th Armored Division, General Orders No. 61 (October 10, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Marvin E. Utter (ASN: 0-26455), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, in action near Metz, France, on 8 September 1944. Chaplain Utter saved an injured French civilian from a shell-wrecked building. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Utter, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.