Airman flies to Soldier's aid, earns valor award Published July 9, 2007 By Army Pfc. Nathaniel Smith 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs BAGHDAD (AFPN) -- An Airman attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with a "V" Device for Valor June 8 for his actions that led to the saving of a Soldier's life. Special Agent Travis Guthmiller, a member of Weapons Intelligence Team 10 of Task Force Troy was responding to a weapons cache-finding in the Doura region of southern Baghdad on April 1 when the rear vehicle in his convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device. The deep-buried IED blasted off the front end of the humvee, ejecting the gunner from his turret and dropping the truck into the crater. When the dust settled and Guthmiller could assess the damage, taking action was the only thing on his mind. "I was kind of just on auto-pilot," he said. "You had to do what you had to do while you're out there and make sure it got done." The Jamestown, N.D., native did what he had to and more. After sweeping the area for secondary IED's, the Airman brought the lead vehicle closer to the blast site for extra security. When that extra security was established, Agent Guthmiller, who is combat-lifesaver qualified, assisted the medics. After he brought a litter from the explosive ordnance disposal truck and helped load the patient, the convoy took off for the hospital. On the way to the hospital, Agent Guthmiller kept the injured gunner's head still and ensuring he could breathe normally. The Airman said the gravity of the situation didn't fully sink in until the next day when he had time to think. "I was kind of just thinking the next day, 'That could have broken out into some crazy fighting. That could have been pretty hairy,'" he said. Army 1st Lt. Brett Gillet, a platoon leader with the 47th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company from Killeen, Texas, said the Airman's combination of situational awareness and action caught his eye. "Anybody can react and say, 'Okay, let's go to the scene,' but he went to the scene, looked around at security and noticed security wasn't as good as it could be," Lieutenant Gillet said. "He looked when he was in the truck and recognized that he was in the best position to help instead of just sitting there and saying, 'Okay, medic, you do your job, and I'll do my job.' There wasn't any hesitation." Agent Guthmiller, who is attached to Task Force Troy and deployed from Minot Air Force Base, S.D., said receiving an award from a service other than his own was a special feeling. "It felt really good," he said. "I was surprised a little bit, but it's cool to be an Air Force guy getting an Army award." Lieutenant Gillet said Agent Guthmiller's actions were worthy of his new decoration. "If you asked (him), he'd say he's just doing his job," the lieutenant said. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it's still saving a guy's life. Despite receiving the recognition, the Airman, who has been working with joint service units since August 2006 and at Forward Operating Base Falcon since January, passed credit on to everybody who was at the site that day. "That was a really good, concerted effort by everybody that was out there," Agent Guthmiller said. "I got a medal for what I did, but the guys out there, everybody just came together. It was really cool." Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page