Former U.S. Air Force Capt. Guy Gruters credits unceasing prayers and bold military action for rescuing him from a North Vietnamese prison in 1973 amid the Vietnam war.
The 78-year-old former military and Eastern Airlines pilot tells his harrowing story in his book “Locked Up With God: My Best Thirteen Speeches.” The Ohio resident will share some of the painful details of his prisoner of war experience during a livestream presentation at 6 p.m. today on the Facebook page and YouTube channel of the Bartholomew County Public Library.
“They got us out … ,” Gruters recounts on his website at guygruters.net. “The American people’s prayers and desire to rescue us from the communist prison hell resulted in the pressure on our leadership to get us out of there, culminating in the spectacular and perfectly effective Christmas bombing of 1972, which did just that.
“Probably the finest and most heart-warming thing done by Americans was the wearing of bracelets with a POW’s name on it.”
Gruters was shot down for the second time — he parachuted and was rescued the first time — on December 20, 1967. He and fellow pilot Col. Robert R. Craner ejected under 1,500 feet while inverted after losing all hydraulic control. They were captured and imprisoned in the Hoa Lò Prison among other camps.
His decorations include more than 30 combat awards, with two Silver Stars, two DFCs, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the POW Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, 20 Air Medals and other accolades.
During his time as a prisoner, he was tortured and his weight dwindled to 120 pounds.
Gruters’ son, who promotes his father’s speaking engagements, calls his Dad’s presentations “unique pro-military, pro-patriotism, pro-God messages that are suitable for all Americans regardless of creed, color, or even political party.”
Gruters calls his most common speech “my total dependence on and trust in the maker.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the presentation” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Who: Former U.S. Air Force and commercial airline pilot Guy Gruters speaking of his experiences as a Vietman POW.
When: 6 p.m. today.
Where: Livestream on the Facebook page and the YouTube channel for the Bartholomew County Public Library.
Information: mybcpl.org
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