Sgt. 1st Class Javier J. Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, died February 8, from wounds sustained during combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Born in Jacksonville, N.C., August 12, 1991, Gutierrez enlisted in the Army in 2009, as an infantryman and was stationed at Fort Bragg, while assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In 2012 Gutierrez attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection at Fort Bragg, and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated in 2015 as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Gutierrez deployed once to Iraq while assigned to 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and once to Afghanistan while assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

He is a graduate of Basic and Advanced Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; and the Special Forces Qualification Course. Gutierrez’s awards include the Army Commendation Medal (1OLC); Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 2); Army Service Ribbon; Expert Infantry and Parachutist Badges; and the Special Forces Tab.