Sergeant First Class Javier J. Gutierrez Jr., known to all as “Jaguar,” was born on August 12, 1991, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, to Javier Soliz Gutierrez and Sylvia Galvan Gutierrez. He was raised largely in San Antonio, Texas, and was especially close to his great-grandparents, Thomas Ortiz, a World War II veteran, and Velia Ortiz.
Defending America at the most elite levels of combat was Jaguar’s dream from boyhood. He joined the Army at the first chance he had and never regretted it. He enlisted as an infantryman in 2009 and, after One Station Unit Training and Airborne School, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Iraq with the division.
Jaguar went on to Special Forces Assessment and Selection and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2015. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, as a Special Forces communications sergeant and later served as a senior communications sergeant. His training also included the Basic and Advanced Leader Courses and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
On February 8, 2020, while conducting operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Jaguar’s combined U.S. and Afghan force came under machine-gun fire from an individual wearing an Afghan uniform. Jaguar and his teammate, Staff Sergeant Antonio Rodriguez, were killed, and six other Americans were wounded. He was 28 years old. Jaguar was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class and awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. His other decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab. “Sgt. 1st Class Gutierrez was a warrior who exemplified selfless service and a commitment to the mission, both values that we embody here in the 7th Special Forces Group,” said Colonel John W. Sannes, the group’s commander.
Jaguar was the quintessential family man. He was deeply in love with his wife, Gabby, and treasured their four children. He did not live for himself or for his own pleasures; he lived sacrificially for his family. Whenever he was not training, he could be found with them at the beach, at a park, at a Waffle House or at church. Just as often he was working out in the front yard while the children played. He was a humble Green Beret who believed to the end that the United States was unique, blessed and exceptional and therefore worth defending. Above all, he loved God. He professed Christ as Lord and Savior from his youth, and his family believes it was that sense of calling which led him to the military life he fulfilled with the ultimate sacrifice.
San Antonio said goodbye at a celebration of life at Community Bible Church, and Jaguar was laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Gabriela Elena Gutierrez; their children, Gabriel, Eden, Helen and Emee; his parents, Javier and Sylvia Gutierrez; his sisters, Jenea Gutierrez and Jordan Gutierrez Garza; and his nephew, Noah.
Sgt. 1st Class Gutierrez was a warrior that exemplified selfless service and a commitment to the mission.
Col. John W. Sannes, 7th Group Commander
Sources
- Department of Defense: DOD identifies Army casualties (Feb. 2020)
- ARSOF History: Sergeant First Class Javier J. Gutierrez Jr.
- Military.com: Special Forces soldiers killed in Afghan firefight ID’d, given Bronze Stars and promotions
- Porter Loring Mortuary (Dignity Memorial): Obituary of SFC Javier Jaguar Gutierrez
- Green Beret Foundation: Javier J. Gutierrez
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Javier Gutierrez bio
