Guy Gruters
Encyclopedia
Guy Dennis Gruters was a United States
Air Force
officer and fighter pilot best known for his survival for over five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was one of the five hundred and ninety-one surviving POWs of all military services released in 1973 for return to the United States during Operation Homecoming
.
where he spent his childhood trapping muskrat, camping, hunting and Scouting (Eagle Scout Rank awarded). He won acceptance to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a BS in Engineering Science (Summa Cum Laude, ranked 7th in his graduating class overall, #1 in Engineering Science.) He then went on to Purdue University and completed a Masters Degree in Astronautical Engineering in less than one year. After Pilot Training and fighter gunnery school, he volunteered for Vietnam
and served six years, more than five years of which was as a POW. During his flight operations as a Forward Air Controller in the first 10 months, Guy flew more than 400 combat missions, first for the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the O-1 "Bird Dog" light observation aircraft and then for the MISTY Fast FACS in the F-100F Super Sabre over North Vietnam.
As a copilot of the two-seat F-100F, Gruters was shot down twice. The first shoot down required a parachute water landing less than one mile offshore near the North Vietnamese city of Dong Hoi
while under fire from the NVA coastal guns in November of 1967. While North Vietnamese boats were prevented from intercepting the downed pilots by strafing U.S. F-4 fighter-bombers, First Lieutenant Gruters and Captain Charles Neel, were rescued under heavy fire by two HH-3E Sea King helicopter crews based 60 miles away.
Gruters was shot down for the second time on December 20, 1967. He and fellow pilot, Colonel Robert R. Craner were captured and imprisoned in the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) among other camps. Upon their initial incarceration, Gruters and Craner cared for Lance Sijan
before Sijan succumbed to wounds and torture in January of 1968.
Gruters spent 5 years and 3 months as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973.
, 20 Air Medals and other medals.
receiving the Medal of Honor
posthumously in 1976. Guy Gruters' story was described in the book, "Bury Us Upside Down," "Into the Mouth of the Cat," and "Misty: Fast Facs."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
officer and fighter pilot best known for his survival for over five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was one of the five hundred and ninety-one surviving POWs of all military services released in 1973 for return to the United States during Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 transports flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick...
.
Biography
Guy Gruters was raised in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
where he spent his childhood trapping muskrat, camping, hunting and Scouting (Eagle Scout Rank awarded). He won acceptance to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with a BS in Engineering Science (Summa Cum Laude, ranked 7th in his graduating class overall, #1 in Engineering Science.) He then went on to Purdue University and completed a Masters Degree in Astronautical Engineering in less than one year. After Pilot Training and fighter gunnery school, he volunteered for Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and served six years, more than five years of which was as a POW. During his flight operations as a Forward Air Controller in the first 10 months, Guy flew more than 400 combat missions, first for the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the O-1 "Bird Dog" light observation aircraft and then for the MISTY Fast FACS in the F-100F Super Sabre over North Vietnam.
As a copilot of the two-seat F-100F, Gruters was shot down twice. The first shoot down required a parachute water landing less than one mile offshore near the North Vietnamese city of Dong Hoi
Dong Hoi
Đồng Hới is the capital city of Quang Binh province, in the north central coast of Vietnam. The city’s area is , population as per the 2009 census: 108,526. Urban area is 55.47 km², urban population was 71,620; Suburban area is 100.24 square kilometers, suburban population was 36,906...
while under fire from the NVA coastal guns in November of 1967. While North Vietnamese boats were prevented from intercepting the downed pilots by strafing U.S. F-4 fighter-bombers, First Lieutenant Gruters and Captain Charles Neel, were rescued under heavy fire by two HH-3E Sea King helicopter crews based 60 miles away.
Gruters was shot down for the second time on December 20, 1967. He and fellow pilot, Colonel Robert R. Craner were captured and imprisoned in the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) among other camps. Upon their initial incarceration, Gruters and Craner cared for Lance Sijan
Lance Sijan
Lance Peter Sijan was a United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot...
before Sijan succumbed to wounds and torture in January of 1968.
Gruters spent 5 years and 3 months as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973.
Decorations
Guy Gruters' decorations include more than thirty combat awards, with two Silver Stars, two DFCs, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star for Valor, the POW Medal, a Presidential Unit CitationPresidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
, 20 Air Medals and other medals.
Other Honors
Guy Gruters' testimony was instrumental in Lance SijanLance Sijan
Lance Peter Sijan was a United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot...
receiving the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
posthumously in 1976. Guy Gruters' story was described in the book, "Bury Us Upside Down," "Into the Mouth of the Cat," and "Misty: Fast Facs."