James “Bo” Gritz, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who long maintained that he helped inspire the character of John Rambo, has died at the age of 87.
His passing was confirmed by his wife, who shared that he died peacefully at home in Sandy Valley, Nevada, “looking into the eyes of our Savior.” No official cause of death was disclosed.
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Gritz served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Over the course of his military career, he received numerous commendations, including three Silver Stars.
During the Vietnam War, Gritz led Detachment B-36 of the 5th Special Forces Group, part of the elite MIKE Force. His unit operated in the III Corps region of South Vietnam near the Cambodian border, conducting high-risk missions that included cross-border operations. Among his most frequently cited achievements was the recovery of a black box from a downed Lockheed U-2 spy plane in Cambodia in 1966.
After leaving active duty, Gritz remained vocal about prisoner-of-war issues, claiming involvement in covert missions aimed at rescuing American POWs in Laos, though none resulted in confirmed recoveries. His life and postwar activism later became the subject of the 2017 documentary Erase and Forget.
Gritz’s public profile extended far beyond his military record. In the early 1990s, he entered politics and ran for president under the Populist Party in 1992. He also became associated with militia movements and elements of the Christian Patriot movement, drawing both support and controversy.
One of his most visible roles came during the 1992 standoff at Ruby Ridge in Idaho. The confrontation between federal agents and Randy Weaver’s family resulted in the deaths of Weaver’s wife and son. Gritz traveled to the scene at the request of federal authorities to help mediate.
“It was just a terrible scene,” he later recalled in an interview. “Weaver hadn’t fired a shot at anybody. And yet, his son was dead.”
Despite advice from the FBI to remain outside, Gritz entered the cabin, assessed Weaver’s injuries, and helped negotiate a peaceful surrender, an outcome credited with preventing further bloodshed.
He later attempted to mediate during the 81-day standoff involving the Montana Freemen, though that effort did not yield the same level of success.
Throughout his post-military life, Gritz framed his actions as a continuation of his oath to defend the Constitution. In a 2020 reflection, he stated, “This is not supposed to happen in America. I took an oath to defend the Constitution… and all of a sudden the Constitution, to me, was in challenge and in the forefront.”
Gritz also asserted that his combat experiences influenced the creation of the fictional character John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in First Blood and its sequels. While the character originated in David Morrell’s novel, Gritz’s supporters pointed to parallels between his military service and the hardened, unconventional Special Forces veteran depicted on screen.
In his later years, Gritz lived quietly in Sandy Valley near the California-Nevada border, where he had resided for more than four decades. His wife had previously written that he wished to die and be buried there.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
James “Bo” Gritz leaves behind a complex legacy — one marked by decorated military service, controversial political involvement, and a life spent navigating the blurred lines between soldier, activist, and public figure.
