Islander awarded Purple Heart from Iraq war

Grand Island Dispatch, March 30, 2007
by Michael J. Owen
U.S. Navy Journalist (Ret.)

Sgt. David S. Caputi of Grand Island is seen just after being wounded in action in Bayji, Iraq, on May 8, 2005. He received a Purple Heart award last Sunday at the Masten Avenue Armory for wounds received

“The explosion rendered me unconscious for a few seconds and blasted my gunner from the turret down into the back seat of the Humvee,” said Sgt. David S. Caputi who received a Purple Heart award last Sunday at the Masten Avenue Armory for wounds received in action in Bayji, Iraq, on May 8, 2005. “All the windows cracked and even though still intact, they were completely blackened from the tremendous heat and flames.”

A team leader, the soldier and his convoy were serving to provide protection to multinationals at a power plant reconstruction cell in Iraq, an effort to help Iraqis rebuild and become self sustaining. Caputi’s factory-up armored Hummer (modified in the field with extra armor) was hit by an improvised exploding device and engaged by small-arms fire by insurgents on Mothers’ Day, 2005. “I believe insurgents were adding insult to injury by staging the attack on Mothers’ Day,” Caputi said. Caputi evacuated himself and two soldiers from the danger zone to a nearby combat surgical hospital facility in Iraq, where they were treated and survived serious injuries.

The Soldier’s Story

Sgt. Dave Caputi served in Iraq from January to November 2005. He was assigned to the Engineer Brigade HQ’s, 42 Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard based out of the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo. While stationed at FOB Danger in Tikrit, Iraq, he served as team leader and assistant convoy commander for the Eng. Bde. RROC PSD Team. RROC stands for regional reconstruction operations center. “Our job was to provide transportation and personal security to the Army and Air Force personnel assigned to oversee the reconstruction projects for oil, power, schools and hospitals throughout northeast Iraq,” Caputi explained.

His convoy was en route through the town of Bayji to the Al Fatah Bridge, when a suicide car bomber crossed the median from oncoming traffic and detonated his explosive laden vehicle approximately three feet from Caputi’s driver’s side door. “The explosion did a lot of damage. The driver’s-side door was blown off the hinges and all four tires were flattened,” he said.

The unit managed to keep their vehicle on track and made it through the kill zone. “Staging our vehicles in a security stop farther down the road, I was able to clear my vehicle and check on the rest of the guys, making sure they were OK. The vehicles up towards the front received small arms fire, while we rendered first aid to an Iraqi civilian while keeping our rear area secure,” he continued. Once back-up arrived with a wrecker, they left the area and proceeded to the nearest Army medical facility.

“Our brand new, $300,000, fully up-armored Humvee was toast,” Caputi said. “We were a little beat up.” Caputi said the engine block of the suicide vehicle was found about 100 yards down the road from the point of detonation, with the frame and transmission scattered on both sides of the road for hundreds of yards. “The really strange thing was when the guy driving the Iraq vehicle crossed the road, my assistant driver saw him, looked right into his eyes and watched him push the button,” Caputi said. Caputi never saw the enemy who almost took his life; he was focused on some “friendlies” up ahead at the underpass.

“We feel like the luckiest guys in the world. People usually don’t get that close to an explosion of that magnitude and up and walk away,” he said. “Yes, I received injuries, we all did. We all got some shrapnel, some burns, bruises cuts and scrapes, but we walked away. We definitely did better than some of our fellow soldiers,” he emphasized.

According to Capt. Roger L. Woodworth, the engineer operation officer and Caputi’s commander, had strong words of praise for him. “Caputi is forthright and not afraid to take an unpopular stance if it is the right thing to do, even among peers and superiors. I had the distinct honor and privilege of serving as Dave’s commander in Iraq,” Woodworth said. “His job was to lead U.S. service members in a combat environment in order to accomplish their prescribed missions. That is what he did, and did well. Iraq is a better place for it, and I am quite certain that there are a number of U.S. military officers, soldiers, airmen, contractors, and other government officials alive today because of Sgt. Caputi,” the Army captain said.

“Sgt. Caputi has made a sacrifice, and continues to every day. Although he still has all his limbs, he will have shrapnel in his face for the rest of his life, and has permanent injuries that preclude him from his passion and livelihood as a cabinetmaker,” Woodworth said. “Sgt. Caputi was lucky to return, and now uses his experience and knowledge to help guide and train the next generation, and next phase of U.S. service members going into combat,” concluded Woodworth.

“Sgt. Caputi is the kind of soldier that represents the best of the U.S. soldier,” said Sgt. Fredric Trunzo, the Readiness and Training NCO at the Masten Street Armory. “His dedication to the Army, his family and country is unwaiverable. Undoubtedly, he has great career ahead.”

A 10-year Army National Guard veteran, Caputi is accredited with 370 missions.. He grew up in Tonawanda and went to St. Amelia’s. He attended Cardinal O’Hara High School for two years before going on to graduate from Kenmore East High School.

A Grand Island resident for the past five years, he and his wife, Renee, have four children: Ashley, 10, and Andrew, 7, attend Kaegebein School. Spencer, 6, goes to Sidway Elementary. Michael David is soon to be 4 and was baptized at the Connecticut Street Armory by the chaplain the day before his father deployed to Iraq.