News-Info-Alerts

Re: Former Joint Commission Member Retires

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: December 19, 2002

"Indio native retires after 20 years in Army
Much-decorated Max Gutierrez traveled world

By Laura Waskin
The Desert Sun
December 18th, 2002

Throughout his distinguished military career, Major Max Gutierrez Jr. has followed the sound of the guns to serve where he’s most needed.

And when the 41-year-old Indio High School graduate retired on Sept. 30 after 20 years of service in two dozen countries, it was the culmination of Gutierrez’s American dream.

"Just because of where you come from, you’re not limited to what you can accomplish," said Gutierrez, a second-generation Mexican-American.

"You can go anywhere and do anything in life, although there is always a sacrifice required. Through my sacrifice of service in the military, our country has returned to me bachelor’s and master’s degrees, a home, a wonderful career and my wife, who was originally my Swiss Sinai Desert pen pal. The opportunities to accomplish great things are there for anyone."

Gutierrez, who now works for the government in homeland defense, said he always carried his Indio roots close to his heart in his travels around the world. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Achievement Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Gutierrez said one of his most satisfying assignments came in 1996 when he was sent to Russia to work with the joint U.S.-Russian POW/MIA committee.

"As an investigator, I interviewed Russian veterans of World War II, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan," said Gutierrez from his home in Virginia.

"We were trying to account for prisoners of war and missing in actions for both our countries. In the course of the job, I was able to investigate the photo archives of the Russian Armed Forces Museum and discovered more than 20 photographs of American POWs from Korea and Vietnam that had never been seen. It was very rewarding," he said.

Gutierrez also was chosen to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration raid on John Claude Josephat, the second most-wanted man in Haiti.

Early signs: Retired Boy Scout master Stu Gummer said Gutierrez showed excellence in leadership roles as a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout in Troop 50 in Indio when he was younger.

"Max didn’t just learn something new quickly, he was able to impart this knowledge to the younger boys and help them to get through their studies and scouting," said Gummer, who lives in Anza.

"He was very skillful in outdoor activities and would volunteer a lot. You could see Max’s leadership qualities coming out."

Gutierrez’s natural sense of leadership and scout training came in handy during a backpacking trip with his high school English class.

"Nine of us became trapped halfway up Mount (San) Jacinto when a blizzard hit," Gutierrez said.

"Another student and myself began leading the others down by pushing through waist high snowdrifts. Luckily, we found an an abandoned Chevy Suburban and climbed inside for the night. … Fortunately, the snow stopped the next day and we were able to make it the rest of the way down the mountain."

But Gutierrez admits that things didn’t always turn out so well during his teen years.

Shortly after enrolling in prep school to pursue his lifelong dream of a being a naval officer, Gutierrez discovered the math requirements were more than he could handle.

"They gave me the option of taking an F or leaving," Gutierrez said. "So I left. But it was the hardest thing I’d ever done because I’d wanted to be in the Navy since I was 6 years old. … So when I came back from the naval academy in Rhode Island and got a job … I was feeling pretty sorry for myself."

But, one day, Gutierrez said a friend stopped by his work in an Army uniform and asked why he was there. "He drove me to the Army recruiting station that same day."

Quick change: Gutierrez said he bluntly told the recruiter he wanted to be on the way to his future within three days and, to his surprise, he was told it would be accomplished within two.

"I decided to climb out of the hole I’d placed myself in," Gutierrez said.

"I was told I could join the infantry and go to airborne parachute school. … From that point on, I never felt sorry for myself again because I knew I’d been given the opportunity to make something of myself. And it turned out getting kicked out of Navy prep school was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Although Gutierrez isn’t able to visit the Coachella Valley more than once or twice a year, his Indio family -- mom Esther, dad Max Sr. and his three brothers -- cheered him on at his recent retirement ceremony in Virginia, along with wife Franziska and 9-year-old daughter Monika.

"Max always says ‘Don’t feel bad or worry when I’m out there serving because we’re doing our job to keep you safe from harm’s way,’ " Esther Gutierrez said. "That’s why he’s doing it. He wants the country to be safe for his daughter, too, and every other child."

Laura Waskin is a Desert Sun features reporter. She may be contacted at 778-4705 or by e-mail at laura.waskin@thedesertsun.com

©2002 The Desert Sun."