James “Bo” Gritz, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and decorated Vietnam War veteran,

has died at the age of 87, according to a statement from his wife. Known for his long military

career and later involvement in political activism, Gritz spent decades in the public eye.

Some supporters believed his experiences helped inspire the fictional character John Rambo,

portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, though the character was originally introduced in the

novel First Blood. Gritz’s life story combined military service, political involvement, and a willingness to place himself in tense situations in an attempt to mediate conflicts.

During the Vietnam War, Gritz served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne),

eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Over the course of his service he

received multiple military honors, including three Silver Stars. His assignments

included leading Detachment B-36 of the MIKE Force, a unit composed of U.S.

personnel and regional allies operating near the Cambodian border.

One of his most notable missions involved recovering sensitive equipment from a downed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft deep in hostile territory in 1966.

After leaving active duty, Gritz became active in political and social movements.

He ran for president in 1992 as the candidate of the Populist Party and drew

attention for his connections to militia groups and the Christian Patriot movement.

At times he attempted to act as a mediator during conflicts involving anti-government groups.

One of the most widely known examples occurred during the Ruby Ridge standoff,

when he traveled to Idaho to help negotiate with Randy Weaver following a violent confrontation that had already resulted in deaths.

In later years, Gritz reflected often on what he saw as a lifelong commitment to

defending constitutional principles and helping Americans in difficult situations.

His experiences were also discussed in the 2017 documentary Erase and Forget,

which explored the lasting impact of the Vietnam War and the cultural myths

surrounding Special Forces veterans. Gritz spent much of his later life in Sandy Valley,

near the California–Nevada border, where he had lived for more than four decades.

According to his wife, he died peacefully at home. He is survived by four children, and no official cause of death has been reported.