By John Montesano
The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club named Danny Gutierrez May 2021 Veteran of the Month.
He was born in Aurora, May 11, 1949, grew up on the East Side, and was graduated from Roncalli High School in 1967. At age six, Danny started playing guitar and formed a band called the Debonairs. By age 12, the band was playing professionally in Aurora area places such as night clubs, high schools, private parties, county fairs. If you were from Aurora, you knew the Debonairs, which lasted because they changed their music and band members according to what was popular. The Band was at its peak in July 1969, when Danny and his bass player were drafted into the U.S. Army.
Danny was sent to Fort Polk, La. for infantry at Tigerland, which was the part of Ft. Polk where U.S. Army soldiers were trained infantry tactics. It was known as the “Birthplace of Combat Infantrymen for Vietnam.” Most of the graduates were sent to Vietnam. However, just before graduation, he was pulled from his infantry unit and sent to Fort Gordon, Ga. to be in the Signal Corps. Danny was one of only two men chosen from his platoon to be sent to Ft. Gordon.
Evidently, tension was increasing along the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in Korea and there was a need for Signal Corps personnel. Although he did not know why he was chosen; and was relieved that he avoided going to Vietnam, where he did go was no walk in the park. Following training, in late 1969, he was sent to Camp Red Cloud (CRC), Korea; one of several along the DMZ. CRC served as the Headquarters of 2nd Infantry Division, which was assigned to guard portions of the DMZ and help deter war on the peninsula.
North Korean forces were engaging in increasing border incursions and infiltration attempts and the 2nd Infantry Division was called upon to help halt these attacks. Danny was a teletype operator, assigned to the 51stSignal Battalion.
After seven months, he was put in charge of all top secret messages, reporting to the Adjutant General and assigned to the Air Force. His mission was to safely deliver top secret messages. Twice a week, he was flown to the camps surrounding the DMZ to deliver them. Ambushes and snipers made this rather hazardous duty. Danny performed in USO shows.
February 11, 1971, he was honorably discharged and came home to Aurora. Danny did sustain a head injury during combat and was exposed to agents orange and yellow. November 6, 1972, he received a letter from the Department of the Army, that withdrew his top secret security clearance and replaced it with a secret clearance, which he still holds to this day.
Now at home, he went to work for Austin-Western for 13 years followed by 30 years with Caterpillar, Inc.. Danny’s brother had kept the band playing and Danny resumed playing with the Debonairs. He has lived in Montgomery for 40 years, the last 30 years with his wife, Pam. Together they have two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren. Danny started the Oswego Knights of Columbus.
His time in the Army taught him respect for people, pride in his Country and brought focus to his life. He said, “That’s something, I think, that all veterans share, making this a better world to live in.”