Salute to Service - SPC Steven Gutowski
United States Army
May 27, 1987 – September 28, 2001
Represented by Julian Edelman, Derek Rivers, and Jerry Schuplinski
United States Specialist Steven Gutowski was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on May 27, 1987 and resided in Plymouth his whole life until joining the Army. SPC Gutowski graduated from Plymouth North High School in 2005, where he played several sports including football and track. He enlisted into the Army in December 2008. He served as a Combat Engineer and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He deployed in February 2011 with the 515th Engineer Company (Sapper), 54th Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan.
During his service, he helped to find improvised explosive devices and aided in route clearance operations. He was known as "Gooto" to those he served with and "Goot" in Plymouth. SPC Gutowski's awards/decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.
SPC Gutowski died September 28, 2011 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
He was a huge fan of the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox; his love for the Boston Bruins was second to none. He was so thankful to see them win the Stanley Cup and was able to watch by being woken up at 4:00 a.m. in Afghanistan. L
