Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O3
Home City of Record: Sarasota FL
Date of Loss: 20 December 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 175700 North 1061700 East
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F100F
Other Personnel in Incident:
NOTE: United States Air Force Academy Grauate 1964
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or
more of the following: raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: 730314 RELEASED BY DRV
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret),
Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications,
10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original
publication (including date and spelling errors).
GUY DENNIS GRUTERS
Captain - United States Air Force
Shot Down: December 20, 1967
Released: March 14,1973
Captain Gruters, a lover of the out-of-doors and
an avid tennis player, is now reunited with his
wife, Sandra, and daughters, Dawn and Sheryl, in
Sarasota, Florida. There he can enjoy his family
and the delights of the Florida beach area. "We
love walking on the beach at night. I would love
to see Sarasota retain the advantages that it has
for family recreation - its natural beauty."
Guy has taken a job with IBM in New Jersey and is
presently studying in their training program. He
was reported a prisoner of war on Dec. 20, 1967
and spent the following five years in a prison
camp.
The American people contributed to his return, he
thinks, by their faith and their interest in the
prisoners. He explains it this way: "Our family
wishes to humbly thank God for reuniting us, due,
we believe, to the wonderful prayers and concern
shown by the American people."
December 1996
Guy Gruters retired from the United States Air
Force as a Colonel. He and Sandy are still
==============================
Dear Sir,
My name is Ryan Gruters and I am the son of former POW Guy D. Gruters USAF
Ret. Just a few clarifications and an update for your website on my father.
First, Dad retired as a Captain from the USAF in '73. He is also currently
retired from a full life of involvement in the Computer Industry as a
top-rated IBM salesman and then a personal computer company owner. He flew
for Eastern Airlines on the side as well in the 1980's because he missed
flying so much. My dad had five more kids after the two that he had before
the war with the same woman (Sandy) whom he married before his second
shootdown in '67.
God has blessed the family immensely with three grandchildren (since the two
older kids were married) with hopefully more on the way as the rest of the
kids get through college and settle down.
Dad currently lives in Minster, Ohio and is enjoying being with a good part
of the family that has settled in the area, finding the time to garden,
write a book (set to be published soon), and travel a bit.
In Dad's spare time, he is giving talks around the country to various
military, ROTC, and civilian groups including the US Air Force Academy, ROTC
units in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Maryland, as well as at
a host of colleges and universities on the East Coast. His message, while
certainly exciting (especially since he flew over 400 combat missions as a
Forward Air Controller, received two silver stars, two distinguished flying
crosses, one bronze star for valor, two purple hearts, over 20 air medals,
as well as being shot down twice and a prisoner for five years and four
months!), has a unique pro-military, pro-patriotism, pro-God message that is
suitable for all Americans regardless of creed, color, or even political
party. It is hard to argue with a man who did what my father did! Please
pray for him as he continues to spread the message of faith in captivity.
That is a brief summary of Guy D. Gruters and what he has been doing these
last thirty years. He was shot down on December 20th, 1967 and returned in
March of '73. Dad asks that anyone who has kept his bracelet for so long,
continue to keep them. Feel free to email dad tho, at rgruters@hotmail.com
Thank you all,
Ryan T. Gruters - Son
From "Ryan Gruters" <rgruters@hotmail.com>
Date:Tues,07 Oct 2003 23:14:+0000
My name is Ryan Gruters and I am the son of
former POW Guy D. Gruters USAF
Ret. Just a few clarifications and an update
for your website on my father. First, Dad retired
as a Captain from the USAF in '73. He is also
currently retired from a full life of involvement
in the Computer Industry as a top-rated IBM salesman
and then a computer software business owner. He
flew for Eastern Airlines on the side as well in
the 1980's because he missed flying so much. My
dad had five more kids after the two that he had
before the war with the same woman (Sandy) whom
he married before his second shootdown in '67.
God has blessed the family immensely with three
grandchildren (since the two older kids were
married) with hopefully more on the way as the rest of
the kids get through college and settle down.
Dad currently lives in Minster, Ohio and is enjoying
being with a good part of the family that has settled
in the area, finding the time to garden, write a
book (set to be published soon), and travel a bit.
In Dad's spare time, he is giving talks around the
country to various military, ROTC, and civilian
groups including the US Air Force Academy, ROTC
units in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky,
and Maryland, as well as at a host of colleges
and universities on the East Coast. His message,
while certainly exciting (especially since he flew
over 400 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller,
received two silver stars, two distinguished flying
crosses, one bronze star for valor, two purple hearts,
over 20 air medals, as well as being shot down twice
and a prisoner for five years and four months!), has
a unique pro-military, pro-patriotism, pro-God message
that is suitable for all Americans regardless of
creed, color, or even political party. It is hard
to argue with a man who did what my father did! Please
pray for him as he continues to spread the message
of faith in captivity.
That is a brief summary of Guy D. Gruters and what
he has been doing these last thirty years. If you
are an old friend of dad's feel free to contact me,
he's always ready to share some of his stories and
gardening tips!
Thank you all,
Ryan T. Gruters - Son
|
