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Guy  D.  Gruters  
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Ribbons
 
  Rank, Service
Captain O-3,  U.S. Air Force
  Veteran of:
U.S. Air Force Academy 1960-1964
U.S. Air Force 1964-1973
Cold War 1960-1973
Vietnam War 1967-1973 (POW)
  Tribute:

Guy Gruters was born in 1942 in Sarasota, Florida. He entered the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 27, 1960, and graduated with a commission as a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on June 3, 1964. Lt Gruters then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his Master's degree in Astronautics at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, from June 1964 to March 1965, followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody AFB, Georgia, from March 1965 until he was awarded his pilot wings in March 1966. He completed F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training with the 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, in October 1966, and then O-1 Bird Dog forward air controller training in February 1967. Capt Gruters next served as an O-1 forward air controller with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, from March to September 1967, followed by service as an F-100 Misty Super FAC at Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, from September 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 20, 1967. After spending 1,912 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. Capt Gruters was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and left active duty on August 13, 1973. Guy Gruters was Misty 29.

His 2nd Silver Star Citation reads:

Captain Guy D. Gruters distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller over North Vietnam on 23 October 1967. On that date, Captain Gruters directed fighter operations against a large concentration of hostile 57 millimeter antiaircraft artillery. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Gruters repeatedly flew his unarmed F-100 aircraft across the target to intentionally draw the groundfire, thus exposing the exact positions of the hostile guns and minimizing the danger for the other pilots. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Gruters has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  


Prisoner of War, North Vietnam
20 December 1967 - 14 March 1973

 


 

 
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Contact Veteran Tributes at info@veterantributes.org