Bo Gritz
James Gordon "Bo" Gritz (/ˈɡraɪts/; born January 18, 1939) is a retired United States Army Special Forces officer who served with distinction during the Vietnam War. Following his military career, Gritz became involved in various attempts to rescue prisoners of war (POWs) associated with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.
Bo Gritz | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Gordon Gritz January 18, 1939 Enid, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Populist (1984–1996) |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign |
| Website | bogritz.com via Wayback Machine |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1957–1979 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | B-36, 5th Special Forces Group |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Soldier's Medal Bronze Star (4) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (26) |
In the realm of politics, Gritz ran for the United States presidency in 1992 as a candidate of the Populist Party, advocating an isolationist platform encapsulated in his manifesto, "The Bill of Gritz". His campaign was characterized by the slogan "God, Guns, and Gritz".
Gritz's life has been marked by controversy, including questions regarding his military awards, his involvement in high-profile standoffs with federal authorities, and his involvement with the Christian Patriot movement and other right-wing militia groups. Despite these controversies, he remains a significant figure in discussions of American military history, politics, and the POW/MIA issue.
Gritz was born in Enid, Oklahoma, and currently resides in Sandy Valley, Nevada. He is the father of four children.