That Time Airman Robert Gutierrez Took A Bullet To The Chest But Stayed In The Fight

In 2009, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert Gutierrez found himself in the middle of a fierce firefight, one were he was eventually awarded the Air Force Cross for heroism.

Nighttime Raid

Gutierrez is a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). In his role, he works with support aircraft for the military like the A-10. JTACS assist with calling in strikes when ground operations need the extra support.

Gutierrez was tasked with assisting an raid with Army special forces attempting to capture a Taliban target living outside the city of Herat in Western Afghanistan. During the nighttime raid, the unit took on heavy fire.

Gutierrez was shot in the chest and his team leader was shot in the leg. The ten men found themselves stuck with no way out.

Finding A Solution

He said, that they were getting "hammered, getting peppered." The team leader wanted to use bombs on their enemy. he disagreed with his leader's assessment.

If you put a bomb on that, it'll kill us all. Guys are getting wounded. Our best chance is a 30mm high-angle strafe."

Sgt. Robert Gutierrez

The head of the team and Gutierrez were discussing this while taking on bullets and firing back. A medic was also working on Gutierrez's wound to figure out where the bullet entered, though it was a through-and-through.

Airstrike Needed

The men desperately needed the assistance of an A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as a Warthog. The A-10 used 30mm GAU-8 Cannon rounds that were the size of beer bottles. The A-10's were used for precise strikes on enemy forces.

An A-10 pilot at the Kandahar Airfield had an F-16 pilot to mark his target with a laser. When the A-10 attacked, it was so close that Gutierrez's right eardrum burst. His left sustained severe damage.

In his effort to get away from the area, Gutierrez lost five-and-a-half pints of blood. The medic re-inflated Gutierrez's lung allowing him to direct two more A-10 strafing runs.

The unit was able to hold off the insurgents for four hours until they could escape. JTACS go through incredible circumstances with their teams, much more than civilians realize.

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13 comments on “That Time Airman Robert Gutierrez Took A Bullet To The Chest But Stayed In The Fight”

  1. We need to hear and or read the stories of our fighting men and women. Of course the media continues to forget that we even have brave men and women fighting and dyeing in far off countries for this countries and being able to help other nations. All we hear about are the crap stories, but the true stories are few and far between.
    When we served in Vietnam, what we actually did for the Viet, people was never told, but people like Jane Fonda, and others made stories and lies that were told to the American people as true. But when we came home, we were treated with hate, name calling, even had jobs denied because they "knew" we were, by media reports, baby killers and worst. Yes, I remember those years, and relive them in my mind everyday. The actions of brave men the American people don't care or give a damn about, really did a stinking job that was given us to do, but we did it to the best of our abilities.
    Stories of the brave men and women of our Services of today need to be told and retold. Too bad our present Commander-in-Chief doesn't care about them, except to use them as background for pictures. But, those who have gone before them, have not forgotten them.

    1. I, too, served from 1967 to 1973 in the Navy. Walking through airports in dress uniform I had to endure young flower children spitting on me. One time I turned and headed toward one of the spitters. An MP stopped me and told me I would be wasting my time and getting into a lot of trouble if I attempted to retaliate. He said the spitters had better legal protection than I, as a sailor, had. It's true that I lost friends but who didn't? I hate that Hanoi Jane never went to prison for her treason and made lots of money after her act of cowardice. The problem, even back then, was the press. Too many fictitious stories came out of Vietnam and robbed the glory from the true heroes. Only lately have people begun to realize the price that was paid by veterans.

      1. She proved her truth when she criticized the US military in the Iraq conflict. She used basically the same verbiage.
        That so-called apology was so quantitative it does not quality in any way.

      2. Yes, and one person who made up those horrific stories/claims was, John Kerry.
        I've never forgiven, Hanoi Jane, for sitting on the "killing guns"....regularly used to kill both the South Vietnamese and Allied fighters. She was giggling, while she just sat there...

    1. NO TIME PERIOD IS NEEDED TO HONOR OUR VETERANS...WHAT YOU JUST SAID...IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID TO TRUMP IN COLLUSION W/RUSSIA...SMOKE SCREEN AS THEY CONTINUE TO RAPE YOU AND ME OF OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS...

    1. Thank them personally when you see one of the brothers. I have been shaking hands and thanking them for many years.

      1. As a Military wife, Vietnam Conflict, and later when my sons enlisted in the Navy.
        Both sons are now Veterans. I have always thanked every Serviceman I've met.
        I also, worked in V.A. System, so...every Veteran I helped...with their paperwork
        and appointments, was also another aspect of my thank you. Respect is important,

  2. I support and pray for our military and police.
    May GOD protect and guide our military and police every day till they come home!!!!!

  3. Old story, Let's keep up to date with what's going on in our Country. The Fiasco in Washington DC, & the LIARS WHO HAVE SKIPPED OUT OF JAIL EASIER THAN PLAYING MONOPOLY, ARE AN EMBARRASEMENT to all living & breathing American citizens. I have an Army Major serving. I care about all the Veterans, but our Country is in Big Trouble from within. If the current administration continues down this path, think to yourselves, what kind of shape will our Country be in, if we make it to 2024.? The rich are getting richer from all the strife in our Country, and around the world.
    What kind of shape was the Whole World in, a few months before the United States 2020 election? Every turn Biden makes is down the wrong path. This Train is approaching a Bridge that can no longer support it,.....Decisions have to be made by a Cognizant reliable Human being................
    NOT DAMN POLITICIANS.

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