Guy D. Gruters

Captain Gruters entered the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 27, 1960, and graduated with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on June 3, 1964. Lieutenant Gruters then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his Master's degree in Astronautics at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody AFB, Georgia, 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, and then O-1 Bird Dog forward air controller training. Captain Gruters next served as an O-1 forward air controller with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 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.