Bo Gritz
| 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 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1957–1979 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Colonel
|
| Unit | B-36, 5th Special Forces Group |
| Battles/wars |
Vietnam War Laotian Civil War |
| Awards |
Silver Star Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart Air Medal |
James Gordon Gritz (/ˈɡraɪts/; born January 18, 1939) — known as Bo Gritz — is a former United States Army Special Forces officer who served for 22 years, including in the Vietnam War. His activities in retirement – notably attempted POW rescues in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue – have proven controversial.
Gritz may be most notable for his United States presidential campaign in association with the Populist Party in 1992. A vocal advocate for the re-institution of racial segregation in states that pass laws to allow it, Gritz ran in 1992 under the slogan: "God, Guns and Gritz," and published an isolationist political manifesto entitled "The Bill of Gritz". Among other things, the "Bill of Gritz" called for the complete closing of the border with Mexico, and the dissolution of the Federal Reserve. Gritz lives near Sandy Valley, Nevada, with his wife Judy, now estranged.
Gritz was born on January 18, 1939, in Enid, Oklahoma. His father served in the Army Air Force in World War II and was killed in action. He was raised by his maternal grandparents on patriotic stories of his father's heroics in the war. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 20, 1957, and shortly thereafter attended Officer Candidate School (OCS). He was promoted to the rank of captain on April 15, 1963, and to major on June 13, 1967.
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Wikipedia