CANTONMENT, Fla. — A hometown hero critically injured in Operation Epic Fury in Iran is now back home in Northwest Florida.
Hunter Girdner, who’s former military, had been in Iran working as a defense contractor when enemy fire struck him as he was attempting to rescue a member of his contract crew.
He’s now recovering from the injuries he suffered.
Girdner just landed back in town on Thursday from Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland.
The 27-year-old previously served in the U.S. military for six years before moving to the private sector.
“I knew what I was going to do since I was roughly 10-years-old,” Girdner said. “It’s the only thing I was ever drawn to.”
Girdner joined the Army in 2018 .
He was reclassified as medically retired in 2024 after multiple injuries .
Now, Girdner calls El Paso, Texas, his home.
That’s where he runs a team of engineers for an air defense system, working hand-in-hand with the Army.
“What that entails is making sure it’s good to go at all times, being ready to deploy, answer the call whenever is necessary,” Girdner told WEAR News on Friday.
He recently received the call to join U.S. Operation Epic Fury.
“Without any questions, me and my team, we packed up, we went out there, and we started performing our jobs we’re supposed to do,” Girdner said. “Trying to protect as many lives as we possibly can.”
John, Steven, Andy, and Mike make up the crew. Girdner was the team lead when the crew came under attack.
There were nonstop alerts for 12 hours from incoming drones, TBMs, and cruise missiles.
For security reasons, Girdner could not tell where he was based or when exactly the attack occurred.
Towards nightfall, their duty took a turn.
“I knew we were in a bad spot,” Girdner said. “That’s when we started our movement to try to go to a bunker. So we started running.”
Girdner wasn’t too far from safety when he noticed his teammate John fell behind.
“We were going to both make it there, or we weren’t gonna make it there at all,” he said. “It didn’t matter. I wasn’t gonna leave him.”
At the same moment that Girdner turned to save his crew mate, a drone struck nearby — strayed shrapnel striking Girdner.
“I just feel like my inside just got ripped apart, like somebody just grabbed my rib cage and flayed me opened,” he said. “The sheer amount of pressure that felt like hit me.”
He says moments later he regained consciousness. His limbs were still intact.
But when he reached for his abdomen, he felt something wrong.
“Pull my hand out, which is a bunch of blood. And then I feel some stuff hanging out of my stomach,” Girdner said. “So I just grab it, throw it back in. I take three fingers. I plug the hole to make sure it doesn’t come out again. And I just start walking as much as I could. Like, I can’t breathe.”
Survival instincts carried Girdner to the bunker where he collapsed. He was then moved to a field hospital and two other facilities.
After several blood transfusions , there were surgeries to remove a kidney, reconstruct his spleen and repair his liver.
He has permanent shrapnel in his abdomen and 34 staples in his stomach.
But Girdner says all five members of the crew survived the attack. His colleague John sustained a shoulder injury.
“I’m glad I’m the one that had it the worst, because I would not want them to go through any of it,” Girdner said.
Girdner was later transported to Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland.
He spent 11 days in the ICU before reuniting with his mom and brother in the D.C. area.
“I know it was very difficult for them, because it was hours in between when they could hear anything back,” Girdner said. “I couldn’t imagine going through it on the other end, just sheer anxiety, not knowing if I was alive or dead.”
That anxiety turned to celebration to see Girdner back in the states.
His sister decorated her Cantonment home in welcome signs as he starts his recovery back in his childhood home.
“I feel nothing but love from the community, from the Pensacola community, especially,” Girdner said. “It has been overwhelming to say the least.”
Girdner is still processing the attack as his body and mind heal.
All things considered, he says there’s not a single thing that he would do differently.
“What’s my life compared to saving thousands?” Girdner said. “There’s no justifying it. I’ll do it again every single day.”
Down the line, Girdner says he hopes to pursue a masters in software engineering. He plans to use that degree to continue serving the country in any capacity he can.
This weekend, representative Michelle Salzman is hosting a homecoming event for Girdner.
Everyone in the community is welcome to join.
It’s set for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the University of West Florida in Building 22.
“Lt. Governor Collins, Senator Gaetz, Myself, Sheriff Simmons & others will be there to welcome him along with prayer from US Marine Corps League Chaplain, Tim Chandler,” Rep. Salzman says. “JOIN US IN A PATRIOTIC WELOME HOME!”