Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Bank, nonprofit show gratitude to Las Vegas veteran

Veteran Joe Gutierrez and family

Brianna Santiago

Joe Gutierrez cuts into a celebratory cake after he and his family got a look inside their new home, built for them by Chase Bank and the nonprofit group Building Homes for Heroes.

On a quiet block in the southwest valley, a crowd of people eagerly wait for Army veteran Joe Gutierrez and his family to pull up to the driveway and see for the first time their new, mortgage-free home.

Deployed three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, Gutierrez has gone above and beyond to serve his country. Now it’s time for his country to serve him.

• • •

Gutierrez enlisted as a private in the Army when he was 22. Over the next 13 years, he earned 26 commendations, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

“I believe in freedom,” said Gutierrez, now 37. “I know what it costs.”

Some of those costs were personal. In 2013, Gutierrez, then a staff sergeant, was forced into medical retirement. His tours of duty had taken their toll physically. Gutierrez suffered from a host of injuries and medical issues, including a cervical spine strain, lumbar degenerative disease and PTSD.

Gutierrez and his family moved from their hometown of Killeen, Texas, to Las Vegas because of financial problems and to be closer to his parents.

Civilian life was an adjustment. The military had instilled in Gutierrez a strong set of values and an appreciation for simple pleasures. Unable to serve and living in pain, Gutierrez felt like he lost a part of himself.

In late 2013, Gutierrez heard about Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit group that partners with Chase Bank to give honorably discharged, injured veterans free homes. Gutierrez applied.

Months passed without any news, so he applied again. And a third time.

Then in December of last year, Gutierrez was picking up his two daughters from elementary school when he received a phone call. Tears rolled down his eyes. From the back seat, one of his daughters began shouting: “We got the house!”

“It was unbelievable,” Gutierrez said.

• • •

In early July, Gutierrez, his wife, April, and their two daughters pulled up to the driveway of their new home. They got out of the car and stood beneath a star-spangled banner hung from the stucco exterior of their newly renovated two-story.

Gutierrez received the paperwork and keys, and the crowd that had assembled applauded. A red- white-and-blue cake was served.

The family walked through the 1,502-square-foot, 3-bedroom home. Gutierrez’s daughters each picked out a bedroom, one lavender and one tangerine.

“Life is good,” Gutierrez said.

Click to enlarge photo

This mortgage-free home in the Southwest part of the valley was provided to Joe Gutierrez on July 11 from Chase Bank and Building Homes for Heroes.

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