Captain Guy Gruters (USAF, Retired)

Catholic Men’s Conference Speakers… March 1, 2008 at Bay City St. Hyacinth - Captain Guy Gruters, (retired), a graduate of the Air Force Academy, flew over 400 combat missions in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller (FAC), one of the most dangerous flight assignments of the war. Shot down twice, and captured the second time in 1967, he then spent over five years in POW camps. He was released along with most American POW’s in 1973. His time as a prisoner forced him to reconnect and draw deeply on his faith in order to survive.

Captain Gruters received two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, one Bronze Star for Valor, two Purple Hearts and over 20 air medals. Some of his experiences have been put into print by other veterans (see Misty, stories of the F-100 FAC’s, by Maj, Gen. Don Shepperd) Captain Gruters is married to Sandy, his wife of 40 years and they have 7 children and numerous grandchildren.