James “Bo” Gritz, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and decorated Vietnam War veteran, has died at the age of 87. His wife confirmed that he passed away peacefully at their home in Sandy Valley, Nevada, though no official cause of death was announced. Gritz served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the Vietnam War and later retired as a lieutenant colonel. Throughout his military career, he earned numerous commendations, including three Silver Stars, reflecting his involvement in high-risk operations. During the war, he led Detachment B-36 of the elite MIKE Force in South Vietnam’s III Corps region near the Cambodian border, where his unit conducted dangerous cross-border missions. One of the most frequently cited episodes of his service involved recovering a black box from a downed Lockheed U-2 spy plane in Cambodia in 1966. After leaving active duty, Gritz remained outspoken about issues surrounding prisoners of war and claimed participation in covert efforts to locate American POWs in Southeast Asia, though these missions never produced confirmed recoveries.

Beyond his military record, Gritz became a highly visible and sometimes controversial public figure. In 1992, he ran for president under the Populist Party and was also linked to militia groups and the Christian Patriot movement. One of his most notable roles came during the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff in Idaho, where federal agents confronted Randy Weaver and his family. After violence claimed the lives of Weaver’s wife and son, Gritz traveled to the scene to help negotiate. Despite warnings from authorities, he entered the cabin, assessed Weaver’s injuries, and helped facilitate a peaceful surrender, which many credited with preventing further bloodshed. He later attempted to mediate during the Montana Freemen standoff as well. Gritz often described his activism as an extension of his military oath to defend the Constitution. He also claimed his experiences partly inspired the fictional character John Rambo, though the character originated in David Morrell’s novel. Gritz leaves behind a complex legacy shaped by military service, political activism, and decades of public debate.