Living Hero

Many of the stories you will hear in the heroes section have a sad ending, but not all. We all know that one does not have to die to be a hero. A hero is a person distinguished by exceptional courage, honor, and strength.

Case in point Staff Sergeant Steven Gouak, United States Marine Corps E.O.D. Team Leader, who’s team was responsible for disabling 190 IEDs, 1 suicide truck bomb, and over 45 weapons caches with a net weight of 6,300 lbs.. one instance stands out from his time in Iraq. On July 2007, his team got called up to assist another EOD team in collecting explosives after a fierce fire fight. Upon arrival his team began collecting and disarming the munitions in the area. They found more than 110 IEDs, plus suicide belts on the dead bodies of the enemies, all together they found over 400 lbs. of explosives. The team began to load up the explosives when they were unexpectedly attacked by enemy forces. For two hours they were in a heated firefight against a barrage of small arms fire, and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs). In the midst of the fire fight a horrible thought came to SSgt. Gouak. What if one of the enemy rounds were to hit the pile of ordinance they had gathered? Realizing the mass destruction that would follow, Gouak seized the initiative and evacuated the ordinance from the area. Because of his quick action SSgt. Gouak stopped what could have been a slaughter of our troops that day.

Thanks to the action of SSgt. Gouak and his team many lives were saved during his tour. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his overall actions in Iraq. He is a living Hero.